The history and characteristics of two cells lines developed from primary explants of pupal tissue from the insect, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), are described. One cell line, IPLB-SF 21, was developed with hemolymph-supplemented medium and has been maintained continuously on the medium. The second cell line, IPLB-SF-1254, was developed with a medium containing a combination of vertebrate sera plus hemolymph and was adapted to hemolyphn-free medium at the 6th passage. The IPLB-SF-21 cell line has a population doubling time of 26 to 30 hr; the doubling time of the IPLB-SF-1254 line is 36 hr. The chromosomal morphology and distribution was typical of other lepidopteran cell lines. Serological studies showed that both cell lines have at least one antigen which also is common is tissue antigens from pupae of Spodoptera frugiperda.
Beetles (Coleoptera) harbor many species ofAcholeplasma andSpiroplasma (division Tenericutes, class Mollicutes). Mollicutes were isolated from guts and/or hemocoels of firefly beetles (Lampyridae) from the United States (Maryland and West Virginia), Ecuador, and Tobago. Firefly beetles were frequent hosts for the group XIV spiroplasma, isolated from Ellychnia corrusca, and the group XIX spiroplasma, isolated fromPhoturis spp. The most unusual feature of the firefly-mollicute association is the carriage of four Mycoplasma species. Recent phylogenetic studies indicate that these species are members of a clade that includes a vertebrate pathogen,Mycoplasma mycoides. The high rate of occurrence ofMycoplasma species (which are, otherwise, infrequent in insects) in lampyrid beetles suggests that the association is significant. The unusual light-producing physiology of lampyrids (which is dependent on large pools of energy) and the production of large amounts of cardenolides from cholesterol (a critical growth factor for many mollicutes) may favor colonization by mollicutes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.