A New Conditionally Immortalized Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Heart Cell Line: Establishment and Functional Characterization as a Promising Tool for Tilapia Myocarditis Studies

A new cell line named the tilapia heart (TAH-11) was established from of (Oreochromis niloticus) by enzymatic digestion and mechanical separation. The TAH-11 has been stably subcultured for over 80 generations resuscitated after being frozen in liquid nitrogen six months, with exuberant growth. optimal culture condition is L-15 medium supplemented 10% fetal bovine serum at 25 °C. Sequencing mitochondrial 18S rRNAs confirmed that cells were derived tilapia. also identified as a myocardial based on mRNA expression troponin I, α-actin myoglobin genes. Simultaneously, could be successfully transfected GFP reporter gene, suggesting used exogenous gene vitro. showed susceptibility to CGSIV, which demonstrated presence severe cytopathic effect, an ideal tool studying host–virus interaction potential vaccines. In addition, inflammatory factors can remarkably induced following Streptococcus agalactiae or iniae. present data lays foundation further explore mechanism how spp. causes myocarditis.