Requirement of Trichomonads for Unidentified Growth Factors, Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids*

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. In a synthetic medium containing 57 compounds, including cholesterol, Trichomonas gallinae and T. gallinarum require 3 factors for growth and acid fermentation of maltose: (1) factor R, found in the protein contaminating some samples of ribonucleic acid, and in other isolated proteins such as conalbumin, γ‐globulin, and bovine albumin fraction V; (2) factor T, found in Trypticase and in the same isolated proteins, but with activity at 4 times the dose required for factor‐R activity, may be a large peptide containing proline; (3) factor S, found in serum, was replaceable by a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acid, each inactive alone. Only C14 through C18 saturated fatty acids were active over a range of 0.058 to 2.34 μm per tube in the presence of oleic acid, while C18 through C22 unsaturated fatty acids were active in the same range with palmitic acid as the supplement. The unsaturated fatty acids were toxic at the largest dose. All fatty acids were not equally active. Surface‐active agents containing mixtures of fatty acids also replaced serum. A 4th factor, found in serum, stimulates the rate of growth as shown by cell counts at 3 days of incubation. T. gallinarum, T. foetus, and a trichomonad from a pig's nose responded to the same supplements when grown on another synthetic medium.

Lipid Interrelationships in the Growth of Paramecium aurelia, Stock 299

“…These results are not surprising since TEM's are considered to be relatively nontoxic sources of fatty acids, possibly because the fatty acids are in bound form and are released slowly into the medium (Shorb & Lund, 1959). Some sterols, on the other hand, have been reported to inhibit the growth of some micro-organisms which do not require sterols (Conner, 1959), but in general sterols are not inhibitory for microorganisms which have a nutritional requirement for these lipids (Buetow & Levedahl, 1964).…”

“…Oleic acid, which replaces TEM-4T for growth of this strain of Paramecium aurelia in crude axenic medium produces the best growth response when present in the growth medium at certain definite ratios of oleic acid:stigmasterol (Soldo & van Wagtendonk, 1967). These same lipids in other proportions inhibit growth.…”

“…The composition of the growth medium is given in Table I . Details of the culture procedures have been described previously (Soldo et al 1966a). TEM-4T was obtained from the Hachmeister Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; stigmasterol was from Calbiochemicals, Inc., Calif.…”

“…The sterol requirement may be satisfied by stigmasterol and other structurally related sterols (Conner, van Wagtendonk & Miller, 1953;Conner & van Wagtendonk, 1955); the need for fatty acids may be met by oleic acid or any of a number of oleic acid-containing lipids, i.e. phospholipids, glycerides, Tweens and TEM's (tartaric acid esters of beef tallow monoglycerides ;Miller & Johnson, 1960;Soldo, Godoy & van Wagtendonk, 1966a). A s water dispersible sources of fatty acids, the TEM's are particularly effective in promoting growth and have gained increased application in the formulation of culture media for fastidious lipid-requiring micro-organisms (Shorb & Lund, 1959 ;Vogel & Hutner, 1961 ;Lee et al 1962).…”

“…phospholipids, glycerides, Tweens and TEM's (tartaric acid esters of beef tallow monoglycerides ;Miller & Johnson, 1960;Soldo, Godoy & van Wagtendonk, 1966a). A s water dispersible sources of fatty acids, the TEM's are particularly effective in promoting growth and have gained increased application in the formulation of culture media for fastidious lipid-requiring micro-organisms (Shorb & Lund, 1959 ;Vogel & Hutner, 1961 ;Lee et al 1962). When one of these substances, TEM-4TY was used as a source of fatty acids for the cultivation of P. aurelia, it was observed that regulation of growth could be achieved by altering the relative concentrations of TEM-4T and stigmasterol in the medium.…”