Cell lines derived from the squash bug, anasa tristis (coreidae: hemiptera)

Authors: Goodman, Cynthia; Ringbauer, Joseph - Joe; LI, YAO-FA - Hebei Academy Of Agriculture & Forestry; Reall, Tamra; Stanley, David

Submitted to: In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Animal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2017
Publication Date: 2/15/2017
Citation: Goodman, C.L., Ringbauer Jr., J.A., Li, Y., Reall, T., Stanley, D.W. 2017. Cell lines derived from the squash bug, anasa tristis (coreidae: hemiptera). In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology - Animals. 53:417-420. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-017-0134-5.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11626-017-0134-5

Interpretive Summary: Insect cell lines are important tools in biomedical and agricultural industries, used to produce proteins than cannot otherwise be made and in research to identify new insecticidal chemistries and to address biological questions about insects. Many cell lines have been established from moth and fly species and these are contemporary research tools. Very few cell lines have been established from true bugs, and in particular none from the squash bug. This is a serious shortcoming because the squash bug is a serious pest of squash, pumpkin, zucchini and some gourd, and at the same time an emerging model insect for a wide range of research activities. To address this problem, we established two continuously replicating cell lines from the squash bug. One of the cell lines has already been provided to active researchers, where it will benefit scientists working to devise novel approaches to controlling squash bugs. Ultimately, this new research tool will benefit all consumers of squash and related agricultural products.

Technical Abstract: The squash bug, Anasa tristis, is a pest of cucurbits that exerts direct damage on crops and is a vector of plant pathogens. We established cell lines from this insect to serve as tools for basic biology, such as virology and immunology, as well as applied studies, such as insecticide development programs. We initiated 15 different cell cultures, using 9 different media or combinations of media. The media yielding the best results were a modification of Kimura’s medium and a combination of two commercially available cell culture media (EX-CELL 420 and L15). We designated the two cell lines as BCIRL-AtE-CLG11 and BCIRL-AtE-CLG15. From the AtE-CLG15 line, we isolated two sub-lines, A and B. Of these, the most consistently replicating line was AtE-CLG15A. We determined the doubling time of this line to be 189.6 hr and its mean cell diameter to be 14.5 ± 0.7 µm. We characterized the AtE-CLG15A line using DAF-PCR. The BCIRL-AtE-CLG15A cell line is now available for researchers world-wide.