Normal Rabbit Kidney Epithelial Cells (RK13 Line)

The RK13 cell line was initiated from the kidney of a 5-week-old rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). The cells exhibit epithelial characteristics and are positive for keratin by immunoperoxidase staining. In the mid-1990s, it was discovered that the RK13 cell line, as well as a wide array of other cell lines originating from rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats, deer, bison, and cats, had been contaminated with the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). RK13 cells are commonly used to isolate viruses and as transfection hosts. The cells have proven susceptible to infection with the B virus, herpes simplex, pseudorabies virus, vaccinia, rabbitpox, myxoma, simian adenoviruses, and rubellavirus.