A NEW CONTINUOUS CELL LINE FROM LARVAE OF THE MOSQUITO AEDES ALBOPICTUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

Abstract

A continuous cell line was established from the first instar larvae of a mosquito, Aedes aibopicms. Primary cultures were prepared from pieces of larval bodies. Cells of various shapes migrated from the explanted larval fragments and multiplied on the glass surface of the culture vessel. The first subculture was made 53 days after the culture was set up, and 100 passages were made during the following 625 days. The established cell line has been designated as NIAS-AeAl-2. The mode of chromosome number of the cell line was 6 (2n). Population doubling time was about 30 hr at 25°C. Cells could be stored at 5°C for about 2 months. The cells consumed aspartic acid and glutamic acid more actively than other mosquito cell lines. Cultures were apparently free from contamination by mycoplasmas and viruses. The cells were susceptible to Chilo iridescent virus (Iridoviridae). The cell line could be cultured continuously in serum-free culture media.