SERUM-FREE CULTIVATION OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM GAMETOCYTES IN-VITRO

Several components were tested for their ability to replace human seru m in cultures of Plasmodium falciparum set up for the development of g ametocytes. Besides a serum-free medium, AI*M*V (Gibco BRL), RPMI med ium supplemented with commercially available serum substitutes was use d to culture gametocytes. The following substances served as serum rep lacements: Basal Medium Supplement (Biochrom), Ultroser G (Gibco BRL) and Nutridoma-SR (Boehringer Mannheim). All serum-free additives suppo rted some parasite growth, but only in RPMI supplemented with Nutridom a-SR were morphologically mature gametocytes obtained. The asexual for ms developed almost as well as in RPMI with human serum added.