title: Serum-free cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes in vitro.
abstract: Several components were tested for their ability to replace human serum in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum set up for the development of gametocytes. Besides a serum-free medium, A*I*M*V (Gibco BRL), RPMI medium supplemented with commercially available serum substitutes was used to culture gametocytes. The following substances served as serum replacements: Basal Medium Supplement (Biochrom), Ultroser G (Gibco BRL) and Nutridoma-SR (Boehringer Mannheim). All serum-free additives supported some parasite growth, but only in RPMI supplemented with Nutridoma-SR were morphologically mature gametocytes obtained. The asexual forms developed almost as well as in RPMI with human serum added.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Parasitologie, Universität Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lingnau
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margos
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Seitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D005718:Gametogenesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free