ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 3 CELL-LINES FROM AEDES-TRISERIATUS (DIPTERA, CULICIDAE)

Three cell lines (A.t. GRIP-1, 2, and 3) were established from Aedes t riseriatus (Say) embryonated eggs or neonate larvae and their morpholo gy, growth, karyotype, and isozyme pattern were studied. The isozyme a lleles observed in the 3 cell lines also were found in adults of the o riginal mosquito colony. Each cell line differed in enzymatic, morphol ogical, and karyotypical patterns. La Crosse encephalitis (LAC) and sn owshoe hare (SSH) viruses, members of the California encephalitis viru s group, were able to replicate in these 3 cell lines. Furthermore, th ese cell lines, especially A.t. GRIP-1, were more sensitive than the A edes aegypti (L.) (ATC 10) cell line for detection of small amounts of delta-endotoxin of Bacillus thuringiensis serovar. israelensis (de Ba rjac).