Rights statement: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Parasitology, 105 (2), pp 193-202 1992, © 1992 Cambridge University Press.
Final published version, 1.2 MB, PDF document
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Axenic cultivation and characterization of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms
AU - Bates, P A
AU - Robertson, C D
AU - Tetley, L
AU - Coombs, G H
N1 - http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PAR The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Parasitology, 105 (2), pp 193-202 1992, © 1992 Cambridge University Press.
PY - 1992/10
Y1 - 1992/10
N2 - A new method is described which has made possible the long-term axenic cultivation of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms in Schneider's Drosophila medium supplemented with 20% (v/v) foetal calf serum. Unlike previous methods, it utilizes direct culture of parasites obtained from the lesions of infected animals rather than adaptation of promastigotes in vitro. Ultrastructural (possession of megasomes), biochemical (cysteine proteinase activity and gelatin SDS-PAGE banding pattern) and infectivity (in vivo) data are presented which show the close similarity of the cultured forms to lesion amastigotes. The axenically cultured forms grew optimally at a temperature of 32-33 degrees C, providing further evidence for their amastigote nature. It was found that adjustment of the pH of the growth medium to 5.4 was required in order to retain the amastigote morphology of the cultured parasites. This supports the notion that leishmanial amastigotes are acidophiles.
AB - A new method is described which has made possible the long-term axenic cultivation of Leishmania mexicana amastigote-like forms in Schneider's Drosophila medium supplemented with 20% (v/v) foetal calf serum. Unlike previous methods, it utilizes direct culture of parasites obtained from the lesions of infected animals rather than adaptation of promastigotes in vitro. Ultrastructural (possession of megasomes), biochemical (cysteine proteinase activity and gelatin SDS-PAGE banding pattern) and infectivity (in vivo) data are presented which show the close similarity of the cultured forms to lesion amastigotes. The axenically cultured forms grew optimally at a temperature of 32-33 degrees C, providing further evidence for their amastigote nature. It was found that adjustment of the pH of the growth medium to 5.4 was required in order to retain the amastigote morphology of the cultured parasites. This supports the notion that leishmanial amastigotes are acidophiles.
KW - Leishmania mexicana
KW - axenic culture
KW - amastigotes
KW - megasomes
KW - cysteine proteinase
KW - infectivity
U2 - 10.1017/S0031182000074102
DO - 10.1017/S0031182000074102
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 1454417
VL - 105
SP - 193
EP - 202
JO - Parasitology
JF - Parasitology
SN - 0031-1820
IS - 2
ER -