Observation on growth and reproduction of various Leishmania isolates in different culture media

Abstract

To compare the growth and reproduction of the promastigotes of Leishmania isolates from various endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in China in various culture media, so as to provide experimental evidence for selecting an appropriate medium for the culture of Leishmania. A total of 3 × 105 promastigotes of KS-2, Cy and JIASHI-5 Leishmania isolates were inoculated into 1 mL NNN medium, 1 mL M199 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum medium, 1 mL M199 medium supplemented with 20% horse serum medium, and 1 mL brain heart infusion medium containing heme, respectively. All media were placed at 22 ℃ under a sterile condition, and the number of promastigotes was counted continuously for 8 days under a microscope. The growth curve was plotted for the three Leishmania isolates. The promastigotes of KS-2, Cy and JIASHI-5 Leishmania isolates all grew and reproduced in the NNN medium, the M199 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum medium, and the M199 medium supplemented with 20% horse serum medium. The number of promastigotes of KS-2, Cy and JIASHI-5 Leishmania isolates was all significantly higher in the NNN medium than in the M199 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum medium, and the M199 medium supplemented with 20% horse serum medium at various time points of culture (all P values < 0.05), and the number of promastigotes of the KS-2 isolate was all significantly greater than that of the Cy and JIASHI-5 isolates in the NNN medium, the M199 medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum medium, and the M199 medium supplemented with 20% horse serum medium at various time points of culture (all P values < 0.05). In ad dition, the promastigotes of KS-2, Cy and JIASHI-5 Leishmania isolates failed to grow and reproduce in the brain heart infusion medium. The growth and reproduction of the promastigotes of various Leishmania isolates from various endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in China vary in the same culture medium, and the growth and reproduction of a Leishmania isolate vary in different culture media. The NNN medium best fits for the culture of Leishmania isolates in the endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in China.