Continuous cell lines are serially propagated cell cultures that can be either diploid or heteroploid. Diploid cell lines are subcultures of a primary culture and have the same chromosomal make-up as the original tissue. Diploid cell lines are usually derived from normal tissue and maintain normal properties throughout subsequent cultivations and generally have limited sub-cultivations. Heteroploid cell lines are also subcultures of a primary culture, but transformation has occurred, so cells are considered abnormal. The cells can be propagated an indefinite number of times. Continuous cell lines are used to cultivate, amplify and isolate viruses to a detectable level for the purpose of identifying a stated virus or virus group. They can be used to isolate and identify viruses for diagnostic, research, development or industrial purposes.
| Cell Line Name | Cell Line Description | Virus Isolation | ||||||||||||||||
| Adenovirus | Coxsackie A | Coxsackie B | Cytomegalovirus | Echovirus | Enteroviruses | Herpes Simplex | Influenza A, B, C | Mumps | Norovirus | Parainfluenza | Polio | Rhinovirus | Respiratory syncytial virus | Varicella zoster | Chlamydia trachomatis | Chlamydia pneumonia | ||
| A549 |
The A549 human heteroploid cell line is composed of epithelial cells that were derived from lung carcinomatous tissue. |
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| BGMK |
The Buffalo Green Monkey Kidney (BGMK) cell line was originally developed to isolate enteroviruses and later adapted for use in detecting infectious viruses. BGMK cells are required to be used per EPA Method 1615 to detect and measure enterovirus and Norovirus species in drinking and recreational waters. |
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| HEp-2 |
The HEp-2 human heterploid cell line is derived from HeLa contaminated, cervix human carcinoma cells. |
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McCoy/ McCoy Lights |
The McCoy cell line is composed of fibroblasts that were derived from mouse carcinoma cells, tissue unknown. |
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| MRC-5 |
The MRC-5 human diploid cell line is composed of fibroblasts that were derived from the normal lung tissue of a 14-week-old male fetus. MRC-5 cells can be used for in-vitro cytotoxicity testing. |
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| HFF |
The HFF human diploid cell line is composed of fibroblasts that were derived from human foreskin. |
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| Vero |
The Vero diploid cell line is composed of epithelial that were derived from normal adult African Green monkey kidneys. Vero cells are used in the cultivation, amplification and isolation of viruses from patient specimens. |
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| WI-38 |
The WI-38 human diploid cell line is composed of fibroblasts that were derived from normal female embryonic lung tissue. WI-38 cells can be used for in-vitro cytotoxicity testing. |
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| MDCK |
The MDCK is a Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line, fibroblast-like cells derived from the kidney of a normal adult Cocker Spaniel. |
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The following cell lines are most commonly used for In-vitro Cytotoxicity Testing:
• MRC-5, human diploid cell line composed of fibroblasts
• WI-38, human diploid cell line composed of fibroblasts
