Abstract: | Attempts were made to find an inexpensive, readily available substitute for human serum requirement for the continuous culture of erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum. We found that Neopeptone or Proteose-Peptone No. 3 added together with calf serum gave parasite growth rates comparable to, or surpassing, those obtained with human serum. However, first it was necessary to adapt the parasites by a gradual, stepwise reduction in the amount of human serum used, and a concomitant, stepwise increase in the substitutes added. |