Which cell line is commonly used to culture Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical samples?

Which cell line is commonly used to culture Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical samples?

• A. McCoy cells
• B. HeLa cells
• C. Vero cells
• D. BHK-21 cells

Answer: (A)

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium, so it only grows inside and requires a susceptible eukaryotic cell culture to complete its life cycle. The McCoy cell line has long been the standard for culturing this organism from clinical specimens because it is highly permissive to C. trachomatis and supports robust intracellular development, producing the characteristic inclusions that researchers look for under the microscope. In practice, labs often use cycloheximide with McCoy cells to inhibit host protein synthesis, which reduces competition for cellular resources and enhances chlamydial replication, increasing the yield and making inclusions easier to detect. Other cell lines like HeLa, Vero, or BHK-21 can support chlamydial growth in some contexts, but they are not the routine, most reliable choice for isolation from clinical material. McCoy cells’ combination of permissiveness, ease of use, and proven track record makes them the best fit for culturing Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical samples.

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium, so it only grows inside and requires a susceptible eukaryotic cell culture to complete its life cycle. The McCoy cell line has long been the standard for culturing this organism from clinical specimens because it is highly permissive to C. trachomatis and supports robust intracellular development, producing the characteristic inclusions that researchers look for under the microscope. In practice, labs often use cycloheximide with McCoy cells to inhibit host protein synthesis, which reduces competition for cellular resources and enhances chlamydial replication, increasing the yield and making inclusions easier to detect.

Other cell lines like HeLa, Vero, or BHK-21 can support chlamydial growth in some contexts, but they are not the routine, most reliable choice for isolation from clinical material. McCoy cells’ combination of permissiveness, ease of use, and proven track record makes them the best fit for culturing Chlamydia trachomatis from clinical samples.