Abstract
Cell cultures derived from the brain tissues of Aequidens rivulatus (Günther) have been characterized previously. In this study, a continuous cell line ARB 8 was further established, and its growth characteristics, transcription and susceptibility to fish viruses—including chum salmon reovirus ( CSV ), marbled eel infectious pancreative necrosis virus ( MEIPNV ), grouper nervous necrosis virus ( GNNV ), giant seaperch iridovirus ( GSIV ), red seabream iridovirus ( RSIV ), koi herpesvirus ( KHV ), herpesvirus anguilla ( HVA ) and marbled eel polyoma‐like virus ( MEP yV)—were examined. ARB 8 cells that showed epithelioid morphology and were passaged >80 times grew well at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 30°C in L‐15 medium containing 5%–15% foetal bovine serum. The cells constitutively transcribed connexion 43, glutamine synthetase, nestin and nkx6‐2, which are markers for neural progenitor cells. The cells were highly susceptible to CSV , MEIPNV , GSIV and RSIV and showed the typical cytopathic effect ( CPE ). However, the cells were resistant to GNNV , KHV , HVA and MEP yV because no significant CPE was noted after infection. Optimal temperatures for virus production ranged from 25°C to 30°C. The results revealed that the neural progenitor cell line ARB 8 can potentially serve as a useful tool for investigating fish viruses and isolating new viruses in ornamental cichlid fishes.