A Chemically Defined Medium for Maintenance of Schistosoma mansoni

Glycogen metabolism in Schistosoma mansoni worms after their isolation from the host

“…In suitable buffers the schistosomes slowly recover from the isolation trauma. It is noteworthy that after the isolation of S. mansoni egg-laying also shows a lag phase of a few days [7,11]. This supports our view that the increased capacity for the uptake of glucose is due to a recovery of the worm.…”

“…be maintained for many days [7,11]. The inadequacy of these media for the maintenance of the glycogen stores was further investigated in prolonged (48-h) incubations.…”

Introduction to the Symbiotic Flatworms

“…Dawes (1954) has reported in Fasciola hepatica the presence of NaCl, KC1, CaCl 2 , MgS0 4 , Na 2 HP0 4 , and NaHC0 3 . These same inorganic compounds, except Na 2 HP0 4 , plus NaH 2 P 0 4 and sodium acetate, apparently occur in Schistosoma mansoni (Senft and Senft, 1962). Potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, chlorine, sulfur, iron, phosphorus, and silicon all have been reported from the body fluids of helminths, especially the cystic fluids of the tapeworms Cysticercus tenuicollis and Echinococcus granulosus.…”

OBSERVATIONS ON AMINO ACID METABOLISM OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI IN A CHEMICALLY DEFINED MEDIUM

“…In 1959, Timms and Bueding found that a medium containing an amino acid mixture, simulating the composition of globin, would support schistosomes for about six days in vitro. We have recently described the use of a completely defined, protein-free, medium (Senft & Senft, 1962) which was adapted from medium 109 originally developed by the National Cancer Institute (Evans et al, 1956) for use as a tissue culture medium. This medium contains 70 constituents, including amino acids, nucleic acid derivatives, 19 vitamin substances, a balanced salt mixture, glucose and gluconates, and a widespectrum antibiotic mixture.…”