Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177733

Title: CHAPTER 9. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE OF LEPIDOPTERAN INSECT CELL LINES AND BACULOVIRUSES

Author
item LYNN, DWIGHT

Submitted to: Methods in Molecular Biology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2005
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Insect cell lines are commonly used in research and product development by hundreds of government, university and industry facilities around the world. This is especially true in insect virus research, where they can be used for production of biopesticides or recombinant proteins. Because of their wide and expanding use, detailed instructions for their maintenance and storage are critical. This chapter describes methods that can be used for different cell types in culture and also describes methods for quality control and storage of this valuable resource. The procedures are based on thirty years of experience by the author and can be used by students or scientists.

Technical Abstract: The various methods for maintaining (a.k.a. subculturing, splitting, or passaging) established lepidopteran cell lines are described. Three procedures are presented that are appropriate for different cell lines dependent upon the growth characteristics (in particular, cell attachment properties) of the cells of interest. In addition to the routine maintenance of cells in active culture, methods are also described for both short (low temperature) and long-term (frozen in liquid nitrogen) storage of cell lines, as well as quality control procedures for the cultures. Methods for storing baculoviruses for use in cell cultures and issues of concern when using cell cultures for their production and study are also described.