Vero cell

Vero Cell

Vero cells under a microscope

Vero cells are a lineage of cells used in cell cultures. The "Vero" lineage was isolated from kidney epithelial cells extracted from an African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus).

History

Vero cells were developed on March 27, 1962, by Yasumura and Kawakita at the Chiba University in Chiba, Japan. The name "Vero" is derived from an abbreviation of "Verda Reno," which means "green kidney" in Esperanto, referring to the origin of the cells from the kidney of the African green monkey.

Characteristics

Vero cells are continuous and aneuploid, meaning they have an abnormal number of chromosomes. They are non-tumorigenic, which makes them suitable for use in the production of vaccines and other biological products. Vero cells are particularly useful because they are easy to maintain and grow in culture, and they are susceptible to a wide range of viruses, making them ideal for virology research.

Applications

Vero cells are widely used in the production of vaccines, including those for polio, rabies, and smallpox. They are also used in the study of viral pathogenesis and the development of antiviral drugs.

Advantages and Limitations

One of the main advantages of Vero cells is their ability to grow in a serum-free medium, which reduces the risk of contamination with animal-derived pathogens. However, a limitation is that they are aneuploid, which can lead to genetic instability over time.

Related pages

• Cell culture
• Vaccine production
• Virology

References

• Yasumura, Y., & Kawakita, Y. (1963). The research for the SV40 by means of tissue culture technique. Nippon Rinsho.
• Barile, M. F., & Hopps, H. E. (1969). Vero cell culture as a substrate for viral vaccine production. Developments in Biological Standardization.