Jf. Lapeyre et M. Faisal, DEVELOPMENT OF A PROTEIN-FREE CHEMICALLY-DEFINED CULTURE-MEDIUM FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE OYSTER PATHOGEN PERKINSUS-MARINUS, Parasite, 4(1), 1997, pp. 67-73
In the present study we describe a protein-free, chemically defined cu
lture medium, designated JL-ODRP-3, which supports the propagation oi
Perkinsus marinus, a parasite of the eastern oyster, Crassotrea virgin
ica. P. marinus adapted rapidly to the defined medium and the growth r
ate of the protozoan increased significantly following a few subcultur
es. Two isolates oi P. marinus, one from the Chesapeake Bay (Virginia)
and the other from;he Gulf of Mexico (Texas) were cultured for al lea
st ten passes. The doubling times far the isolates from Virginia and T
exas, in Jog phase, were 18 +/- 1.2 and 28.6 +/- 3.2 hours respectivel
y, after ten passes in JL-ODRP-3. Moreover, P. marinus cells cultured
in the defined medium were infective to eastern oysters. Finally, the
defined medium was used successfully to initiate continuous cultures o
f P. marinus from heart fragments of infected oysters. The absence oi
proteins and peptides from this chemically defined medium demarcates J
L-ODRP-3 as the most suitable medium to study P. marinus proteins, to
produce antigens far antibody production, and to screen chemotherapeut
ic agents.