CELL-LINES FROM THE MELOLONTHINE SCARAB ANTITROGUS-PARVULUS

Continuously replicating cell lines have been established from embryon ic tissue and circulating hemolymph cells of the melolonthine Antitrog us parvulus Britton. Isozyme analyses demonstrated that cell lines fro m both tissue sources expressed essentially the same isoforms of enzym es as A. parvulus larvae and thus confirmed the species of their origi n. Karyotype analyses showed that cells from both tissue sources had a ccumulated changes in chromosome number and morphology during culture. Availability of melolonthine-derived cells should assist in. vitro st udies of the pathogens of this important group of beetles.