MDCK (Madin–Darby Canine Kidney) is an epithelial cell line derived from dog (canine) kidney tissue and is widely used as a model system for studying epithelial biology, cell polarity, membrane transport, and viral infection. These adherent cells form well-organized monolayers with tight junctions, making them particularly valuable for research on barrier function, protein trafficking, and host–pathogen interactions. MDCK cells are also commonly used in virology and vaccine production workflows due to their high susceptibility to a range of viruses.
The cells should be handled at laboratory containment level 1.