Arthropod tissue culture in India (1967-1988) --a review
Pant, U.; Banerjee, K.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 91: 397-407
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 2091985 Document Number: 360149
Since the first ever successful establishment of a mosquito cell line was reported (from Aedes albopictus) by K.R.P. Singh in 1967 from the National Institute of Virology (formerly Virus Research Centre), Pune, several cell lines from various species of mosquitoes and other arthropods have been established in India. Results obtained are summarized with regard to the establishment, growth characterization, cell morphology and susceptibility to viruses or other pathogens of cell cultures from mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus, A. w-albus, A. novalbopictus, A. vittatus, A. aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, C. infula, C. sp. aff. tritaeniorhynchus and Anopheles stephensi), ixodid ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera, H. obesa and Rhipicephalus sanguineus), bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus) and the gelechiid lepidopteran Gnorimoschema operculella [Phthorimaea operculella]. It was found that cultures of the latter insect did not support the multiplication of any of the numerous arboviruses or other mammalian viruses tested. Numerous arthropod cell lines which originated in India have been used throughout the world and vice versa. Future prospects for the use of arthropod tissue culture in India include the diagnosis of parasitic and viral diseases of man, domestic animals, insects and plants, the propagation of protozoan parasites, the production of microbial biological control agents and the development of vaccines.