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Influenza: propagation, quantification, and storage

Amanda L Balish1, Jacqueline M Katz1, Alexander I Klimov1

  • 1Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Current Protocols in Microbiology
|May 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Influenza viruses, including types A and B, are major human pathogens. Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells are the preferred choice for isolating these human influenza viruses from clinical samples.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Influenza viruses are negative-sense, single-stranded, enveloped RNA viruses from the Orthomyxoviridae family.
  • Influenza A, B, and C types infect humans, with A and B being significant human pathogens.
  • Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) surface proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the optimal cell lines for isolating influenza A and B viruses.
  • To highlight the significance of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells in influenza virus isolation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of established virological isolation techniques.
  • Analysis of factors influencing influenza virus propagation in cell culture.

Main Results:

  • The choice of cell line for influenza virus isolation depends on clinical information and host of origin.
  • Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells are identified as the preferred cell line for isolating human influenza viruses.

Conclusions:

  • MDCK cells provide a reliable and efficient method for the isolation of human influenza A and B viruses.
  • Standardized cell line usage can improve diagnostic accuracy and epidemiological surveillance of influenza.

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