Alternatives for obtaining a continuous cell line from Apis mellifera

ABSTRACT: In worldwide there are reports of a significant decrease in colonies of the species Apis mellifera, caused by several factors, including viral infections. In order to study and diagnose illnesses caused by viruses, in vitro cell culture is used as a valuable tool. Yet, there are still no immortalized cell lines of honey bee Apis mellifera. Primary cell cultures are promising for this purpose and can supply the lack of continuous strains, but their establishment is difficult and laborious, which often makes them unfeasible for many research centers. Through the use of cell immortalization techniques, it is possible to develop continuous cell lines and thus benefit, in different ways, research related to different species of bees. The choice of technique is challenging, since in addition to the ability to remain viable for countless passages, cells must keep the genotype and phenotype similar or identical to the original tissue. This review intends to present methodologies that can be used to immortalize Apis mellifera cells, aiming to establish a cell line. The genotypic and phenotypic implications of each technique are evaluated, and the purpose of the cell line to be developed.

摘要：全球已有研究报告显示，西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）的蜂群数量显著下降，诱因涵盖多种因素，病毒感染便是其中之一。为研究并诊断由病毒引发的蜂类疾病，体外细胞培养已成为极具价值的研究工具。然而目前仍未建立起西方蜜蜂的永生细胞系。原代细胞培养在此类研究中颇具应用前景，可弥补连续细胞株的缺失，但其构建过程繁琐且耗费人力，对多数研究机构而言往往难以实际开展。借助细胞永生化技术，可开发出连续细胞系，进而从多维度推动各类蜜蜂相关研究的进展。技术选择颇具挑战性：除需确保细胞经无数次传代仍保持活性外，还必须使其基因型与表型与原始组织保持相似乃至完全一致。本综述旨在梳理可用于西方蜜蜂细胞永生化的各类方法，以期成功建立稳定的细胞系；同时评估每种技术所带来的基因型与表型层面的影响，并明确待构建细胞系的应用目的。