Electron microscope detection of tubular aggregates in the mosquito cell line C6/36 treated with Culex australicus (mosquito) homogenate.
'Tubular aggregates' are morphologically distinct cytoplasmic structures that have been linked to a variety of pathological conditions. This report documents the presence of tubular aggregates in an insect cell line (C6/36 cells derived from Aedes albopictus) following inoculation of the cells with material derived from cell culture passaged homogenized Culex australicus mosquitoes. The tubular aggregates were detected in ∼2% of treated cells and had three morphological forms that were termed primary, secondary and tertiary, with progressively greater levels of structural complexity. The findings indicate that tubular aggregates can be induced in an insect cell culture system by an unidentified agent present in some mosquitoes.
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia john.marshall@mh.org.au.
John A
JA
Marshall
Microbial Sciences, Pests and Diseases, Biosciences Research Division, Agricultural Productivity, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Centre, La Trobe University Campus, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Stacey E
SE
Lynch
Microbial Sciences, Pests and Diseases, Biosciences Research Division, Agricultural Productivity, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Centre, La Trobe University Campus, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Jodie C
JC
Crowder
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michael G
MG
Catton
Microbial Sciences, Pests and Diseases, Biosciences Research Division, Agricultural Productivity, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, AgriBio Centre, La Trobe University Campus, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
Mark
M
Fegan
Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Leesa D
LD
Bruggink
D000330:Aedes / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003465:Culex / Q000378:metabolism*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*; D008867:Microtomy
C6/36 cells; mosquito; tubular aggregates