Development of a continuous cell line from larval Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) and its use in the study of the microsporidian, Loma morhua

Abstract In vitro cell culture methods are crucial for the isolation, purification and mass propagation of intracellular pathogens of aquatic organisms. Cell culture infection models can yield insights into infection mechanisms, aid in developing methods for disease mitigation and prevention, and in...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Fish Diseases
Main Authors: MacLeod, Michael J., Vo, Nguyen T. K., Mikhaeil, Michael S., Monaghan, S. Richelle, Alexander, J. Andrew N., Saran, Mandeep K., Lee, Lucy E. J.
Other Authors: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jfd.12830
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fjfd.12830
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jfd.12830
Description
Summary:Abstract In vitro cell culture methods are crucial for the isolation, purification and mass propagation of intracellular pathogens of aquatic organisms. Cell culture infection models can yield insights into infection mechanisms, aid in developing methods for disease mitigation and prevention, and inform commercial‐scale cultivation approaches. This study details the establishment of a larval cell line ( GML ‐5) from the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) and its use in the study of microsporidia. GML ‐5 has survived over 100 passages in 8 years of culture. The line remains active and viable between 8 and 21°C in Leibovitz‐15 (L‐15) media with 10% foetal bovine serum and exhibits a myofibroblast phenotype as indicated by immuno‐positive results for vimentin, α‐smooth muscle actin, collagen I and S‐100 proteins, while being desmin‐negative. GML ‐5 supports the infection and development of two microsporidian parasites, an opportunistic generalist ( Anncaliia algerae ) and cod‐specific Loma morhua . Using GML ‐5, spore germination and proliferation of L. morhua was found to require exposure to basic pH and cool incubation temperatures (8°C), in contrast to A. algerae , which required no cultural modifications. Loma morhua ‐associated xenoma‐like structures were observed 2 weeks postexposure. This in vitro infection model may serve as a valuable tool for cod parasitology and aquaculture research.