Neoaplectana glaseri: essential amino acids

Required for a nematode's reproduction in a chemically defined medium are the nine mammalian essential amino acids (sensu strictu). Needed in addition to lysine, tryptophane, histidine, phenylalanine, leucine, isoleucine, threonine, methionine, and valine is arginine which is marginally essential for mammals. Tyrosine, nonessential for mammals, is not absolutely required by the nematode but is beneficial in terms of onset time and quantity of reproduction. Aspartic acid, nonessential for the nematode and mammals, is toxic for adult nematodes at and above 4.8 mg/ml medium. The nematode, Neoaplectana glaseri, is parasitic in insect grubs but the strain used has been cultivated in species isolation on kidney slices continuously since (1944).