Mixed cell diagnostic systems

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the field of diagnostic microbiology, and, more particularly, to compositions and methods for detecting and differentiating one or more viruses or other intracellular parasites present in a specimen. The present invention also provides compositions and methods to evaluate the susceptibility of a organisms to antimicrobial agents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition comprising a cell culture suitable for the detection of intracellular parasites, wherein said cell culture comprises at least two cell types and wherein said cell types are susceptible to infection by at least one intracellular parasite.  
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said cell types comprise a first cell type and a second cell type.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of buffalo green monkey kidney cells and said second cell type consists of mink lung cells.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of mink lung cells and said second cell type consists of human mucoepidermoid cells.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of human lung carcinoma cells and said second cell type consists of human mucoepidermoid cells.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of buffalo green monkey kidney cells and said second cell type consists of human embryonic lung cells.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of human epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma cells and said second cell type consists of McCoy cells.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein said first cell type consists of mink lung cells and said second cell type consists of human diploid lung cells.  
     
     
         9 . A method for the detection and identification of intracellular parasites in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing: 
 i) a sample suspected of containing one or more intracellular parasites; and  
 ii) a mixed cell culture comprising at least two cell types;  
   b) inoculating said mixed cell culture with said sample to produce an inoculated culture; and    c) observing said inoculated culture for the presence of said one or more intracellular parasites.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said intracellular parasite is a virus.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said virus is selected from the group consisting of cytomegalovirus, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, coronoviruses, and adenoviruses.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cell types comprise a first cell type and a second cell type.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first cell type is a mink lung cell, and said second cell type is a human mucoepidermoid cell.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said virus is an enterovirus.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said enterovirus is selected from the group consisting of Coxsackie viruses and echoviruses.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first cell type is a buffalo green monkey kidney cell and said second cell type is a human mucoepidermoid cell.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said virus is a herpes virus.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said herpes virus is selected from the group consisting of Herpes Simplex Type 1, Herpes Simplex Type 2, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster Virus, Epstein-Barr Virus, Human Herpes Virus 6, Human Herpes Virus 7, and Human Herpes Virus 8.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first cell type is a genetically engineered baby hamster kidney cell and said second cell type is a mink lung cell.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first cell type is a first genetically engineered cell type and said second cell type is a second genetically engineered cell type.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said intracellular parasite is a member of the genus Chlamydia.  
     
     
         22 . A method for the detection and identification of intracellular parasites in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing: 
 i) a sample suspected of containing one or more intracellular parasites; and  
 ii) a mixed cell culture comprising a first cell type and a second cell type;  
   b) inoculating said mixed cell culture with said sample to produce an inoculated culture; and    c) observing said inoculated culture for the presence of said one or more intracellular parasites.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said intracellular parasite is a virus.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said virus is selected from the group consisting of cytomegalovirus, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, coronoviruses, and adenoviruses.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said first cell type is a mink lung cell, and said second cell type is a human mucoepidermoid cell.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said virus is an enterovirus.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said enterovirus is selected from the group consisting of Coxsackie viruses, echoviruses, and polioviruses.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said first cell type is a buffalo green monkey kidney cell and said second cell type is a human mucoepidermoid cell.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said virus is a herpes virus.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said herpes virus is selected from the group consisting of herpes simplex type 1, herpes simplex type 2, and cytomegalovirus.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said first cell type is a genetically engineered baby hamster kidney cell and said second cell type is a mink lung cell.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said first cell type is a first genetically engineered cell type and said second cell type is a second genetically engineered cell type.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said intracellular parasite is a member of the genus Chlamydia.  
     
     
         34 . A method for the detection of influenza virus, comprising the steps of 
 a) providing a sample suspected of containing influenza virus, and mink lung cells;    b) inoculating said mink lung cells with said sample; and    c) detecting the presence of said influenza within said mink lung cells.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said mink lung cells are Mv1Lu cells.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said influenza virus is selected from the group consisting of Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C.