A new cell line from the embryonic tissue of Helicoverpa armigera HBN. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A database of crop pest cell lines

We have developed an online database describing the known cell lines from Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera that were developed from agricultural pests. Cell line information has been primarily obtained from previous compilations of insect cell lines. We conducted in-depth Internet literature searches and drew on Internet sources such as the Cellosaurus database (https://web.expasy.org/cellosaurus/), and inventories from cell line depositories. Here, we report on a new database of insect cell lines, which covers 719 cell lines from 86 species. We have not included cell lines developed from Drosophila because they are already known from published databases, such as https://dgrc.bio.indiana.edu/cells/Catalog. We provide the designation, tissue and species of origin, cell line developer, unique characteristics, its use in various applications, publications, and patents, and, when known, insect virus susceptibility. This information has been assembled and organized into a searchable database available at the link https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/aginsectcellsdatabase which will be updated on an ongoing basis.

Available Lepidopteran Insect Cell Lines

This chapter lists the known cell lines from Lepidoptera, largely based on previous compilations of insect cell lines published by W. Fred Hink. More than 320 lines from 65 species are listed. The official designation is given for each cell line as well as the species, tissue source, and, when known, the susceptibilities to baculoviruses.

Establishment and characterization of three embryonic cell lines of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Three cell lines (QAU-Se-E-1, -2 and -3, or Se-1, -2 and -3 for short) were established from eggs of beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) that have been passaged stably for more than 60 times in TNM-FH medium supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum. The cell lines consisted of round and spindle-shaped cells. The round cells accounted for 96.82, 84.34 and 83.16 % of the cells in the three cell lines, respectively, with cell diameters of 16.21 ± 0.72, 15.63 ± 0.58 and 13.06 ± 0.44 μm. Random amplified polymorphic DNA and analysis of the CO I gene showed that the three cell lines were all derived from S. exigua. Growth curves at passage 30 were determined and the results showed that the cell population doubling times were 59.03, 49.08 and 49.91 h, respectively. The three cell lines can be infected by S. exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV). Se-3 was extremely susceptible to the virus with an infection rate of 97.52 % 4 days after the inoculation and produced 2.02 × 10(6) OBs per mL of culture. Flow cytometry analysis showed that some of Se-1 and Se-2 cells had apoptosis after infection, whereas Se-3 cells did not. Bioassays showed that the virulence of the SeMNPV proliferated from Se-3 was similar to that from the insect with LC50 of 5.55 × 10(5) and 2.64 × 10(5) OBs/mL. Therefore, the cell lines can be used to study the SeMNPV-host interactions and mechanisms underlying the interactions.

Characterization of a eukaryotic type serine/threonine kinase in Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus-I (SpltNPV-I)

An open reading frame (ORF) of 819nt coding for a predicted protein of 272 amino acids was identified in the genome of Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV-I). Sequence derived amino acid sequence analysis of this ORF suggested it to be a eukaryotic type protein kinase having conserved I-XI subdomains of Hanks kinase. In addition to kinase catalytic domains, this hypothetical protein had two bromodomains which could play regulatory roles in transcription. The ORF was expressed as approximately 31 kDa apoprotein in E. coli and approximately 33 kDa glycoprotein in Sf9 cells, and was called SpltNPV-I pk1 or pk1. The protein was localized in the nuclei of infected cells of the SpltNPV-I permissive cell line, NIV-HA-197. The recombinant protein had autophosphorylation and substrate phosphorylation activities in presence of Mn(2+) or Mg(2+), and these activities were inhibited by staurosporine. Mutation of Lys-50 to Met but not Lys-44 to Gln abolished pk1 kinase activity. Kinetics of pk1 showed that the rate of phosphorylation of SpltNPV-I pk1>MBP>histone H1, and both MBP and histone H1 had the K(m)s of 3muM. Analysis of phosphorylated protein showed the phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues, but not tyrosine. All these results suggested that identified SpltNPV-I ORF codes for a serine/threonine kinase.

Serine/Threonine kinase dependent transcription from the polyhedrin promoter of SpltNPV-I

Polyhedrin (polh) and p10 are the two hyper-expressed very late genes of nucleopolyhedroviruses. Alpha amanitin resistant transcription from Spodoptera litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltNPV-I) polyhedrin promoter was observed with virus infected nuclear extract of NIV-HA-197 cells but not with that from uninfected nuclear extract. Anti-protein kinase-1 (pk1) antibody inhibited the transcription and the inhibition reversed on addition of pk1, however, pk1 mutant protein, K50M having no phosphorylation activity did not overcome the transcription inhibition. Chromatin immuno-precipitation assays with viral anti-pk1 antibody showed the interaction of pk1 with the polh while electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated the strong binding affinity (K(d) approximately 5.5x10(-11)) of purified pk1 with the polh promoter. These results suggested that the viral coded pk1 acts as a transcription factor in transcribing baculovirus very late genes.

A new cell line from larval fat bodies of the bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A new cell line, designated IOZCAS-Ha-I, was initiated from the fat body of larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in TNM-FH medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Spherical cells were predominant among the various cell types. The cell line showed a typical lepidopteran chromosome pattern ranging from 58 to 239 chromosomes in the majority of the cells. It was confirmed to have originated from the H. armigera by the DNA amplification- fingerprinting polymerase chain reaction (DAF-PCR) technique. The new cell line was only slightly susceptible to the multiple nucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) from H. armigera.

Available lepidopteran insect cell lines

This chapter lists the known cell lines from Lepidoptera, largely based on previous compilations of insect cell lines published by W. Fred Hink. The official designation is given for each cell line as well as the species, tissue source, and, when known, the susceptibilities to baculoviruses.

Establishment, growth, cryopreservation and species of origin identification of three cell lines from white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus

Three cell lines derived from fin (WSF), head soft tissue (WSHST) and body muscle (WSBM) were established from white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Characterization included determination of optimal growth kinetics, karyotyping, and mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genotyping. The primary cultures of these cells were generated by the explant technique using the L-15 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and epidermal/fibroblast growth factors. The cells grew between 15-30 degrees C, but optimal growth occurred at 25 degrees C with a doubling time of 48 hours. The cell lines can be readily maintained in-vitro and have been subcultured over 35 times. Following cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, thawed cells exhibit a viability of > 90% after a 16-month storage period. Chromosomal typing of these cell lines at their 17th passage revealed a chromosomal distribution of 242 to 278 with an apparent peak ranging from 250 to 260. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA and sequence analysis indicated 100% identity of the sequences found in the cell lines with those found in the source animal, confirming that the cell lines were of A. transmontanus origin.