Gametocytogenesis induction by ammonium compounds in cultured Plasmodium falciparum |
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Authors: | T Ono T Nakabayashi |
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Institution: | Department of Protozoology, Osaka University, Japan. |
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Abstract: | Asexual parasites of a strain that seldom or never produce gametocytes in in vitro culture began gametocytogenesis after 24 h treatment with RPMI 1640 medium containing concanavalin A (final concentration, 10 micrograms ml-1) and ammonium carbonate (final concentration, 15 mM ml-1) or ammonium bicarbonate (final concentration, 15 mM ml-1). Gametocytogenesis was consistently observed from the 3rd day after the treatment. Concanavalin A enhanced gametocytogenesis induction by ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate, although concanavalin A does not itself have gametocytogenesis induction activity. Whereas no gametocytogenesis was observed after addition of concanavalin A and ammonium acetate (final concentration, 5-25 mM ml-1) or ammonium chloride (final concentration, 5-15 mM-1). Addition of ammonium compounds resulted in decrease of parasitemia, regardless of gametocytogenesis. |
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