Human malaria parasites in continuous culture

Science. 1976 Aug 20;193(4254):673-5. doi: 10.1126/science.781840.

Abstract

Plasmodium falciparum can now be maintained in continuous culture in human erythrocytes incubated at 38 degrees C in RPMI 1640 medium with human serum under an atmosphere with 7 percent carbon dioxide and low oxygen (1 or 5 percent). The original parasite material, derived from an infected Aotus trivirgatus monkey, was diluted more than 100 million times by the addition of human erythrocytes at 3- or 4-day intervals. The parasites continued to reproduce in their normal asexual cycle of approximately 48 hours but were no longer highly synchronous. The have remained infective to Aotus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Culture Media
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development*
  • Reproduction, Asexual

Substances

  • Culture Media