A continuous cell line derived from larval fat bodies of Thysanoplusia intermixta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

A continuous cell line has been established from larval fat bodies of a lepidopteran insect, Thysanoplusia intermixta. These cells were cultured in MGM-450 medium. The cell line, designated as TI-I, was a suspension of cells with a doubling time of 36 h and consisted mostly of spindle-shaped cells, although other shapes, notably spherical cells, also existed. The chromosome number of the cell line varied considerably with the mode of 150-179. This cell line was found to be susceptible to Autographa californica NPV (AcNPV). Isozyme analysis showed that the cells had distinctive patterns from other insect cell lines.