Growth and Maintenance of in Insect Cell Lines.

The obligate intracellular microbe, (Rickettsiales; Anaplasmataceae), is a Gram-negative member of the alpha proteobacteria that infects arthropods and filarial worms. Although closely related to the genera and , which include pathogens of humans, is uniquely associated with invertebrate hosts in the clade Ecdysozoa. Originally described in mosquitoes, is currently represented by 17 supergroups and is believed to occur in half of all insect species. In mosquitoes, acts as a gene drive agent, with the potential to modify vector populations; in filarial worms, functions as a symbiont, and is a target for drug therapy. A small number of strains from supergroups A, B, and F have been maintained in insect cell lines, which are thought to provide a more permissive environment than the natural host. When transferred back to an insect host, produced in cultured cells are infectious and retain reproductive phenotypes. Here, I review applications of insect cell lines in research and describe conditions that facilitate infection and replication in naive host cells. Progress in manipulation of in vitro will enable genetic and biochemical advances that will facilitate eventual genetic engineering of this important biological control agent.