Comparative analysis of lipid composition in axenic strains of Blastocystis hominis.

1. Six axenic strains of Blastocystis hominis varied in content of lipids from 12 to 43 pg total lipid/cell. With all strains, phospholipid content was about 39% of total lipids. 2. Neutral lipid fractions of B. hominis were resolved into nine constituents, of which seven were identified tentatively. Sterol esters, principally esters of cholesterol, were the major neutral lipid constituent, accounting for 49-63% of the neutral lipids, and at least 30% of the total lipids. 3. Polar lipids were resolved into eleven constituents, of which nine were identified tentatively. Phosphatidylcholine was the major polar lipid constituent of all strains, accounting for 53-63% of the polar lipids, and about 22% of the total lipids.