Superiority of hemoglobin to hemin for cultivation of Leishmania tropica promastigotes in serum-free media.
Leishmania tropica promastigotes grew slowly but could be maintained for long periods in serum-free hemin-containing media formulated previously for other Leishmania species or in slightly simplified versions of these media. Replacement of hemin in the medium by hemoglobin resulted in a much longer log phase and a significant reduction in the doubling time. Cell counts in cultures started at 1 x 10(5) cells/ml increased 400-fold in less than 140 h in the hemoglobin-containing media. These media also proved suitable for growing L. donovani and L. enriettii promastigotes.
Gholamhosseinian
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Department of Biochemistry, Shiraz University Medical School, Iran.
Vassef
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D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D006427:Hemin; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007895:Leishmania tropica / Q000254:growth & development*
D003470:Culture Media; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006427:Hemin