hostcell

Host cell, also written as hostcell in some contexts, refers to a living cell that is utilized by a pathogen or a biotechnological system for replication or production of biological materials. In virology, viruses depend on host cells to provide the machinery and energy required for transcription, translation, replication, and assembly. The host range of a virus is determined by receptor compatibility and intracellular environment; some viruses infect a broad range, others are cell-type or species-specific. Viral infection culminates in steps: attachment and entry, genome replication, production of viral proteins, assembly of virions, and release.

Host cells can be prokaryotic, such as Escherichia coli, used to propagate plasmids; or eukaryotic, including yeast, plant, insect, and mammalian cells. In research and biotechnology, common host cell lines include Escherichia coli for simple protein expression; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; mammalian lines such as HEK293, CHO, and HeLa; insect cell lines such as Sf9 using baculovirus expression vectors.

In biotechnology, host cells serve as production systems for recombinant proteins, vaccines, and gene therapy vectors. The choice depends on factors like protein folding, post-translational modifications, scalability, and regulatory considerations.

Culturing host cells requires defined growth media, controlled temperature, sterile technique, and proper biosafety. Ethical and safety frameworks govern use, including institutional biosafety committees and compliance with national and international guidelines.