Conservation through Cell Culture

ECACC currently supplies  a number of cell lines which were established from species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna - CITES  

Many of these cell lines have been derived from Chlorocebus aethiops - African Green Monkey – such as VERO 84113001. VERO cells have been widely used in hospital laboratories for clinical diagnostics and for the development of vaccines. Uses for the B95-8 85011419 cell line derived from the Cotton Topped Tamarin- Saguinus oedipus includes the generation of the Epstein Barr virus, used for the transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. ECACC also has cell lines derived from the upper primates such as the Western Lowland Gorilla- EB(JC) 89072703, and the Orang Utan - EB185(JC) 89072705, which have been used in research into HIV.

In order to comply with International CITES regulations, ECACC applies to the UK Wildlife Licensing department of the Animal and Plant Health Agency for CITES Re-Export permits for the supply of CITES cell lines.

Scientists can be reassured that the use of these cell lines means that no additional animals are taken from the wild, or from captive bred colonies to provide biological samples for research use.

The use of ECACC's CITES cell lines helps in the conservation of some of the world’s most endangered species.