VERO 76

VERO 76 is a well-characterized continuous cell line derived from the kidney of an African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops). Established in 1968 by K.M. Johnson, it is a derivative of the original Vero line.

A key distinguishing feature of VERO 76 is its lower saturation density compared to the parental Vero line, which can be advantageous for specific experimental designs. More critically, like other Vero sublines, VERO 76 harbors a large deletion and loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 12 encompassing the type I interferon gene cluster. This interferon deficiency prevents the cells from producing interferon-α or -β in response to viral infection, enabling robust viral replication and clear cytopathic effect (CPE) observation—making it an exceptionally sensitive system for antiviral compound screening.

VERO 76 exhibits broad susceptibility to a diverse range of viruses. It supports replication of human haemorrhagic fever viruses including Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Junin, and Machupo viruses, producing visible plaques upon infection. The line has also been successfully employed in plaque assays for Rickettsia prowazekii and in neutralization assays for vaccine development. Its ease of culture in standard DMEM-based medium further facilitates routine laboratory use.

These attributes—interferon deficiency, broad viral susceptibility, well-characterized genetic background, and practical handling—establish VERO 76 as a versatile and reliable platform bridging fundamental virology, vaccine development, and antiviral drug discovery.