MCCOY AND MCCOY-PLOVDIV CELL LINES IN EXPERIMENTAL AND DIAGNOSTIC PRACTICE - PAST, PRESENT AND PERSPECTIVES

The McCoy cell line has almost 50 years history. The cells are widely applied in the diagnostics and culture of various microorganisms with medical importance. The cell line is included in laboratory and diagnostic tests which are the basis for study of interactions between various pathogens and host cells leading to cytotoxic damage or cell death. With its importance in experimental and diagnostic laboratories, McCoy cell line is among the most popular cell cultures - HeLa, HEp-2, Vero, CaCo-2, 3T3, MDCK. An alternative for application of McCoy is the serum-free strain McCoy-Plovdiv. It is cultured in completely defined, serum- and protein-free medium. It keeps the properties of the parental line but also offers new opportunities.