Nutritional requirements and biosynthetic capabilities of the parasitic flagellate Strigomonas oncopelti.

Abstract

SUMMARY: A study of the nutritional requirements of the trypanosomid flagellate Strigomonas (Herpetomonas) oncopelti has led to the development of a chemically defined growth medium containing methionine, thiamine, nicotinamide, p-amino-benzoic acid, glucose, salts and trace metals. Fractionation and analysis of organisms grown in this defined medium supplemented with trace amounts of various 14C-labelled substrates has thrown light upon the ability of growing organisms to utilize carbon derived from glucose, acetate, a number of amino acids, purines and pyrimidines for the synthesis of cellular components.