Thawing, Growth, and Maintenance of Vero Cell Lines

Vero cell line is derived from the kidney of an African green monkey and is one of the most common mammalian continuous cell lines used in research. Its deficiency in the production of type 1 interferons allows this cell line to be susceptible and permissible to replication of several viruses, including the yellow fever virus. Continuous cell culture in the laboratory can increase the risk of contamination, as well as loss of characteristics of interest in the strain. To minimize these risks a cultivation standard should be established. This chapter presents useful protocols for the maintenance of Vero cells for laboratorial routine, such as thawing vials from a cell bank stock, maintenance by subcultivation procedures, adaptation of the cells to grow in serum-free media, and production of cell culture plates for laboratory routine assays.