Date of Award

12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Dr. Laura Newcomb

Abstract

Feline Coronavirus (FCoV) is a veterinary pathogen common in domestic cats. FCoV is transmitted via the fecal-oral route, results in mild enteric symptoms, and is considered feline enteric coronavirus (FECV). During infection the virus may transition from infecting host enteric epithelial cells to infecting host macrophages, resulting in a lethal systemic disease, and the virus is now considered feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). FIPV arises in an infected individual, is not shed in the feces, and is not transmitted from cat to cat. There is limited research defining the host molecular mechanisms driving FCoV lethal outcomes, with few feline cell lines available for researchers through American Tissue Culture Collection (ATCC). Here I report the characterization of a new domestic feline macrophage cell line, termed FMAC. I show FMAC survives many passages and resuscitation from cryopreservation. FMAC maintains macrophage morphology and phagocytosis of GFP expressing bacteria. I further show FMAC expresses the FCoV receptor, fAPN, and is susceptible to infection with both feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) and feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). Interestingly, while FECV and FIPV replicate in FMAC and produce new virions, FMAC does not exhibit strong cytopathic effects during infection, in contrast to expectations. Our results suggest that in some domestic cats infected macrophage persist in the blood stream and release virus throughout the animal, causing systemic lethal infection. Upon publication our FMAC cell line will be deposited to ATCC for other researchers to utilize.

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