Abstract
Experiments with crustacean viruses are hampered by lack of susceptible continuous cell lines. To overcome this problem, immortal mosquito and lepidopteran cell lines were both separately challenged with a shrimp DNA virus (white spot syndrome virus: WSSV, = PRDV) and RNA virus (yellow head virus: YHV) followed by serial, split-passage with immunohistochemical monitoring by confocal laser microscopy using labeled monoclonal antibodies to shrimp viral antigens. Stable, immortal cultures with 100% of the cells expressing shrimp-virus antigens were obtained, although the infected cells appeared grossly normal by phase contrast microscopy. Nor did they show any ultrastructural modifications characteristic of the challenge viruses. These persistently-expressing insect cell cultures were stable and could be continuously passaged, stored and revived as required. Since disparate viruses and insect cells were used, this appears to be a generic process that may be applicable to other shrimp viruses as well.
