Evaluation of a modified culture medium for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
The aim of the present study was to assess the possible use of a modified medium, prepared in the laboratory using the constituents of Barbour-Stonner-Kelly (BSK) medium and medium 199 as base, for the culture of Borrelia strains, comparing the growth of individual strains in this medium and in the BSK-H medium, and the protein profile and antigenic characteristics of Borrelia proteins expressed in these media. A qualitative evaluation of growth of Borrelia species was made with acceptable results (morphology and motility), but during a quantitative evaluation using the three main genospecies of Borrelia, the better results were obtained with a B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strain. The modified medium did not enable the growth of a B. afzelii strain. The protein profile and antigenic characteristic of the expressed proteins in the modified medium were studied with satisfactory results. These results suggest the modified medium as an alternative for the cultivation of Borrelia strains, with some limitations, in poorly-resourced laboratories.
Rodríguez
Islay
I
National Laboratory of Spirochetes, Tropical Medicine Institute Pedro Kourí, Havana, Cuba. islay@ipk.sld.cu
Lienhard
Reto
R
Gern
Lise
L
Veuve
Marie Colette
MC
Jouda
Fatima
F
Siegrist
Hans H
HH
Fernández
Carmen
C
Rodríguez
José Enrique
JE
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media