Cell Culture

Definition

Cell culture is the process of growing and maintaining cells in a controlled, artificial environment outside of their natural organism. It is a fundamental technique used in various fields, including microbiology, to study the properties and behavior of cells in isolation from the complex in vivo environment.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cell culture techniques are essential for the isolation, cultivation, and identification of viruses, as they provide a controlled environment for virus propagation and study.
2. The choice of cell line used for virus isolation and culture is crucial, as different cell types can support the growth of specific viruses based on their receptor expression and permissiveness.
3. Viral cytopathic effects, such as cell rounding, lysis, or the formation of syncytia, are commonly observed in cell culture and can be used to identify the presence of a virus.
4. Techniques like plaque assays and tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) are used to quantify the titer of a virus in a cell culture system.
5. Cell culture is also employed for the production of viral vaccines, where viruses are grown in appropriate cell lines and then inactivated or attenuated for use as immunogenic agents.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of cell culture in the isolation and identification of viruses.
  • Cell culture is a critical technique in the isolation and identification of viruses. By growing viruses in a controlled, artificial environment, researchers can observe the specific cytopathic effects and growth characteristics of the virus, which can be used to identify the viral agent. The choice of cell line is crucial, as different cell types can support the growth of specific viruses based on their receptor expression and permissiveness. Techniques like plaque assays and TCID50 are then used to quantify the titer of the isolated virus, providing important information for further study and characterization.
• Describe how cell culture is utilized in the production of viral vaccines.
  • Cell culture plays a vital role in the production of viral vaccines. Viruses are grown in appropriate cell lines, which provide a controlled environment for their propagation. The viruses are then either inactivated (e.g., through chemical treatment) or attenuated (e.g., through serial passage) to reduce their pathogenicity while maintaining their immunogenicity. This process allows for the production of safe and effective viral vaccines that can be used to stimulate the immune system and provide protection against specific viral infections.
• Analyze the advantages and limitations of using cell culture techniques in the study of viruses.
  • The use of cell culture techniques in the study of viruses offers several advantages, such as providing a controlled environment for virus propagation, allowing for the observation of specific viral cytopathic effects, and enabling the quantification of viral titers. However, cell culture techniques also have limitations. The choice of cell line can restrict the types of viruses that can be isolated and studied, as not all viruses may be able to replicate in a given cell line. Additionally, the artificial environment of cell culture may not fully reflect the complex in vivo conditions, potentially leading to differences in viral behavior and properties compared to natural infection. Researchers must carefully consider these advantages and limitations when designing and interpreting studies that utilize cell culture techniques for the investigation of viruses.

Related terms

Tissue Culture: The growth of tissue fragments or organ parts in an artificial medium, often used interchangeably with cell culture.

Primary Cell Culture: The initial culture of cells directly isolated from a tissue or organ, without any prior passage or subculturing.

Continuous Cell Line: A cell line that has been immortalized and can be propagated indefinitely, often derived from a primary cell culture.