title: In vitro cultivation and characterization of Leishmania chagasi amastigote-like forms.
abstract: For the first time, we have reported the establishment and serial propagation of an axenic culture of Leishmania chagasi amastigote-like forms. Parasites were characterized by microscopic evaluation and by the expression of two stage-specific genes, A2 and Ldccys2 amastigote-specific cysteine protease. The differentiated amastigote-like forms were maintained by serial cultivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somanna
authors.forename: Vasanthakrishna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mundodi
authors.forename: Lashitew
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gedamu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005856:Germ-Free Life / Q000235:genetics; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*