Cultivation ofTrypanosoma bruceisspp. in semi-defined and defined media

Abstract

Semi-defined and defined media for the growth of culture forms ofTrypanosoma bruceisspp. have been developed by enrichment of tissue culture medium 199 with additional vitamins, amino acids, salts and other compounds. The semi-defined medium contains an acid hydrolysate of casein: in the empirically devised defined medium the casein requirement has been circumvented by inclusion of additional vitamins and amino acids. Both media are very hypertonic. Control of pH was found to be particularly critical for growth. The optimum temperature for growth in the semidefined medium was between 25°C and 28°C, but cells would undergo one or two division cycles at 37°C.