Simple supplementation of serum-free medium produces gametocytes of Plasmodium falciparum that transmit to mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Human serum is a major component of Plasmodium falciparum culture medium, and can be replaced with AlbuMAX^™ II, a lipid-rich bovine serum albumin, for asexual cultures. However, gametocytes produced without serum are poorly infective to mosquitoes. Serum suffers from high cost, limited availability, and variability in quality.

Methods

Several commercially-available media supplements were tested for their ability to support parasite growth and production of P. falciparum (3D7) gametocytes in standard RPMI1640 medium containing 0.5% AlbuMAX. The impact on asexual growth and gametocyte production with each supplement was assessed and compared to standard RPMI1640 medium containing 10% human serum, as well as to medium containing 0.5% AlbuMAX alone. The inf

SUBMITTER: Pradhan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389287 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature