The Vero cell line was initiated from the kidney of a normal adult African green monkey on March 27, 1962, by Y. Yasumura and Y. Kawakita at the Chiba University in Chiba, Japan (Nippon Rinsho 21: 1209, 1963). The cells were established in a medium consisting of 0.5% lactalbumin hydrolysate, 0.1% yeast extract and 0.1% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in Earle's BBS (98%), plus 2% heat-inactivated calf serum. (The concentration of the calf serum was later increased to 5%.) In June 1964 the cell line -- in its 93rd passage -- was brought by Dr. B. Simizu from Chiba University to the Laboratory of Tropical Virology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. Beginning with the 97th passage, the cells were maintained on Morgan, Morton, and Parker's Medium 199, plus 5% fetal bovine serum (not inactivated); however the cells have also been successfully maintained on Minimum Essential Medium (Eagle) with non-essential amino acids and Earle's BSS, plus 5% fetal bovine serum.

Culture Medium
Minimum essential medium (Eagle), with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum.

Growth Characteristics
Cells seeded at a concentration of 2x10⁴ cells/cm² in the above culture medium will be 100% confluent in 5 days.

Plating Efficiency
Approximately 24%.

Morphology
Fibroblast-like.

Karyology
Chromosome Frequency Distribution 50 Cells: 2n = 60.

Species
Confirmed as monkey by immunofluorescence.

Common Utilization
Isolation of Coxsackie B; Herpes simplex Virus; Mumps; and Poliovirus.