PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM INVITRO CULTURE - IMPROVEMENTS USING UMBILICAL-CORD SERUM AND MEDIUM MODIFICATIONS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (4) , 409-413
Abstract
Umbilical cord serum is a cheap, readily available source of human serum which promotes in vitro P. falciparum growth as well as or even better than adult serum, and gives more consistent results. By increasing to 35 mM the HEPES [2-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]-ethanosulfonic acid] concentration in RPMI medium, the time elapsed between 2 medium changes can be extended to 48 h (or even to 72 h if optimum multiplication rates are not required). An initial parasitemia of 0.2% with medium changes on day 2 and 3 generally results in 6-12% parasitemia on day 4 (30-60 X/96 h).