A New Cell Line Derived from the Caudal Fin of the Dwarf Gourami ( Trichogaster lalius ) and Its Susceptibility to Fish Viruses

• Published in: Biology (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 6; p. 829
• Main Authors: Jeong, Ye-Jin, Kim, Kwang-Il
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.06.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Analysis; Cell culture; Cell growth; Cell lines; Chromosome number; Cytology; Diagnosis; Diploids; dwarf gourami; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Fetal calf serum; Fishes; Growth conditions; Health aspects; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhagic septicemia; Infection; infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus; Investigations; Kidneys; Lysis; Maximum likelihood method; Ornamental fish; Paralichthys olivaceus; Plant virus diseases; Plant viruses; primary cell; red sea bream iridovirus; Spleen; Transfection; Transmission electron microscopy; Trichogaster lalius; Vaccine development; Vaccines; Variance analysis; Viremia; Virions; Viruses; Red Sea; South Korea; Japan; Grand Island New York; United States > US; dwarf gourami; infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus; primary cell; red sea bream iridovirus
• ISSN: 2079-7737; 2079-7737
• DOI: 10.3390/biology12060829

The detection of megalocytiviruses, especially the infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), in ornamental fish has increased with the rapid growth of the ornamental fish industry. In this study, dwarf gourami fin (DGF) cells derived from the caudal fin of the dwarf gourami ( ), which is highly susceptible to red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) and ISKNV, were established and characterized. The DGF cells were grown at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 30 °C in Leibovitz's L-15 medium supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum and were subcultured for more than 100 passages, predominantly with epithelial-like cells. DGF cells had a diploid chromosome number of 2 = 44. Although the initial purpose of this study was to establish a cell line for the causative agents of red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIV and ISKNV), DGF cells were also susceptible to rhabdoviruses (viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, hirame rhabdovirus, and spring viraemia of carp virus), exhibiting a significant cytopathic effect characterized by cell rounding and lysis. Additionally, viral replication and virion morphology were confirmed using virus-specific conventional polymerase chain reaction and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, both RSIV and ISKNV were replicated at high concentrations in DGF cells compared to other cell lines. Notably, the DGF cells maintained a monolayer during ISKNV infection, indicating the possibility of persistent infection. Thus, DGF can be used for viral diagnosis and may play a critical role in advancing our understanding of ISKNV pathogenesis.