PK-15 Cells












Exploring swine fever virus interaction with PK-15 cells
Description | The PK(15) cell line, derived from PK-2A, a cell line established in 1955 from the kidney of an adult pig, is infected with the porcine type-C oncovirus (formerly known as porcine endogenous retrovirus, PERV), which is classified as a risk group 2 agent. The host cell genome contains 62 copies of the *pol* gene, which codes for reverse transcriptase and other proteins. Initially, the virus particles produced by the PK(15) cell line were described as defective and non-infectious for a variety of mammalian cell lines, including a human cell line, leading to its classification as a risk group 1 cell line. However, subsequent studies demonstrated that human 293 cells could be productively infected by the cell-free supernatant of PK(15) cells. This finding resulted in the reclassification of the PK(15) cell line by the German Central Commission for Biological Safety (ZKBS) in November 2018. PCR analyses revealed that the transmitted viruses belonged to the polytropic subtypes PERV-A and PERV-B. Additionally, it was observed that the virus particles produced by the 293 cells were resistant to inactivation by the human complement system. In addition to its virological significance, the PK(15) cell line also serves as a suitable host for transfection applications. Due to its adherent growth properties, it is highly valuable in various research and experimental settings. |
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Organism | Pig |
Tissue | Kidney |
Synonyms | PK(15), PK (15), PK 15, PK15, Porcine Kidney-15 |
Details of the porcine circovirus cells PK-15
Age | Adult |
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Gender | Male |
Morphology | Epithelial-like |
Growth properties | Monolayer, adherent |
Documentation
Citation | PK-15 (Cytion catalog number 607426) |
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Biosafety level | Biosafety level 1. The cell line harbors Porcine type-C oncovirus (PCOV) sequences and their transcripts, and the possibility of viral secretion cannot be excluded. In Germany, these viruses are categorized as BSL 1 for humans and BSL 2 for animals (TRBA 462). However, the German Central Committee on Biological Safety (ZKBS) assigns a BSL 2 classification to these viruses and infected cell lines when used for genetic modification purposes. |
Genomic profile of the PK15 cell line
Viruses | PCV1 (Porcine circovirus 1) positive, PCV2 negative, PCV3 negative |
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Virus susceptibility | Hog cholera, African swine fever, vesicular exanthema of swine, foot and mouth disease (FMDV), vesicular stomatitis (Indiana), vaccinia, reovirus 2, 3, adenovirus 4, 5, coxsackievirus B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 |
Virus resistance | Poliovirus 2 |
Reverse transcriptase | Positive |
Handling
Culture Medium | EMEM (MEM Eagle), w: 2 mM L-Glutamine, w: 2.2 g/L NaHCO3, w: EBSS (Cytion article number 820100a) |
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Medium supplements | Supplement the medium with 10% FBS and 1% NEAA |
Passaging solution | Accutase |
Subculturing | Remove the old medium from the adherent cells and wash them with PBS that lacks calcium and magnesium. For T25 flasks, use 3-5 ml of PBS, and for T75 flasks, use 5-10 ml. Then, cover the cells completely with Accutase, using 1-2 ml for T25 flasks and 2.5 ml for T75 flasks. Let the cells incubate at room temperature for 8-10 minutes to detach them. After incubation, gently mix the cells with 10 ml of medium to resuspend them, then centrifuge at 300xg for 3 minutes. Discard the supernatant, resuspend the cells in fresh medium, and transfer them into new flasks that already contain fresh medium. |
Split ratio | A ratio of 1:2 to 1:4 is recommended |
Seeding density | 2 x 10^4 cells/cm^2 |
Fluid renewal | 2 to 3 times per week |
Freezing recovery | Allow the cells to recover from the freezing process for at least 24 to 48 hours. |
Freeze medium | As a cryopreservation medium, use complete growth medium (including FBS) + 10% DMSO for adequate post-thaw viability, or CM-1 (Cytion catalog number 800100), which includes optimized osmoprotectants and metabolic stabilizers to enhance recovery and reduce cryo-induced stress. |
Handling of cryopreserved cultures |
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Quality control
Sterility | Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods. To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections. |
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STR profile |
Amelogenin: x,x
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Required products
What's in EMEM?
EMEM is a modified version of Eagle's minimum essential medium, containing Earle's Balanced Salt Solution, non-essential amino acids, L-glutamine, sodium pyruvate, and sodium bicarbonate. It's important to note that this level of sodium bicarbonate is intended for use in 5% CO2 in the air. To maintain its effectiveness, storing the medium at 2°C to 8°C in the dark when not in use is recommended.
What is EMEM used for?
Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM) is a cell culture medium that can maintain cells in tissue culture. The medium contains higher concentrations of amino acids, allowing for a more accurate approximation of the protein composition of cultured mammalian cells. EMEM may be used to cultivate various cells, including fibroblasts, human liver cancer cell line (HepG2) cells and human fetal brain progenitor-derived astrocyte cells (PDA). It is typically used in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), calf, or horse sera.
How is EMEM different from other cell culture media?
While EMEM and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) share some similarities, they also differ. Both media lack protein and contain the amino acids, salts, glucose, and vitamins required to provide a cell with energy and maintain it in tissue culture. However, the DMEM formulation is modified to contain up to four times more vitamins and amino acids and two to four times more glucose than EMEM. It's worth noting that EMEM is also different from the original MEM formulation.
Quality Control
Sterile-filtered
Storage and Shelf Life
Store at +2°C to +8°C, protected from light.
Once opened, store at 4°C and use within 6–8 weeks.
Shipping Conditions
Ambient temperature
Maintenance
Keep refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C in the dark. Avoid freezing and frequent warming to +37°C, as it reduces product quality.
Do not heat the medium beyond 37°C or use uncontrolled heat sources such as microwave appliances.
If only part of the medium is to be used, remove the required amount and warm it to room temperature before use.
Composition
Category
Components
Concentration (mg/L)
Amino Acids
L-Arginine HCl
126.00
L-Cystine 2 HCl
31.30
L-Glutamine
292.00
L-Histidine HCl H2O
42.00
L-Isoleucine
52.00
L-Leucine
52.00
L-Lysine HCl
72.50
L-Methionine
15.00
L-Phenylalanine
32.00
L-Threonine
48.00
L-Tryptophan
10.00
L-Tyrosine 2 Na 2 H2O
51.90
L-Valine
46.00
Vitamins
Choline Chloride
1.00
Vitamins
D-Calcium Pantothenate
1.00
Folic Acid
1.00
myo-Inositol
2.00
Nicotinamide
1.00
Pyridoxal HCl
1.00
Riboflavin
0.10
Thiamine HCl
1.00
Inorganic Salts
CaCl2 2 H2O
265.00
Inorganic Salts
KCl
400.00
MgSO4
97.67
NaCl
6800.00
NaHCO3
2200.00
NaH2PO4
122.00
Other Components
D-Glucose
1000.00
Other Components
Phenol Red Sodium Salt
11.00
Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) is a widely used buffer solution in biological and chemical research. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the pH balance and osmolarity during various experimental procedures, including tissue processing and cell culture. Our PBS solution is meticulously formulated with high-purity ingredients to ensure stability and reliability in every experiment. The osmolarity and ion concentrations of our PBS closely mimic those of the human body, making it isotonic and non-toxic to most cells.
Composition of Our PBS Solution
Our PBS solution is a pH-adjusted blend of ultrapure-grade phosphate buffers and saline solutions. At a 1X working concentration, it contains:
8000 mg/L Sodium chloride (NaCl)
200 mg/L Potassium chloride (KCl)
1150 mg/L Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous (Na2HPO4)
200 mg/L Potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous (KH2PO4)
This composition ensures an optimal pH and ionic balance, suitable for a wide range of biological applications.
Applications of Our PBS Solution
Our PBS solution is ideal for various applications in biological research. Its isotonic and non-toxic properties make it suitable for substance dilution and cell container rinsing. PBS solutions containing EDTA are effective for disengaging attached and clumped cells. However, divalent metals such as zinc should not be added to PBS, as this can cause precipitation. In such cases, Good's buffers are recommended. Additionally, our PBS solution is an acceptable alternative to viral transport medium for the transport and storage of RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Quality Control
Sterile-filtered
Storage and Shelf Life
Store at +2°C to +25°C, protected from light.
Once opened, store at 2°C to 25°C and use within 24 months.
Shipping Conditions
Ambient temperature
Maintenance
Keep refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C in the dark. Avoid freezing and frequent warming to +37°C, as it reduces product quality.
Do not heat the medium beyond 37°C or use uncontrolled heat sources such as microwave appliances.
If only part of the medium is to be used, remove the required amount and warm it to room temperature before use.
Composition
Category
Components
Concentration (mg/L)
Salts
Potassium chloride
200
Potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous
200
Sodium chloride
8000
Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous
1150