Continuous In Vitro Culture of Babesia duncani in a Serum-Free Medium. 2023

Weijun Jiang, and Sen Wang, and Dongfang Li, and Yajun Zhang, and Wanxin Luo, and Junlong Zhao, and Lan He
State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.

Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease, caused by haemoprotozoa genus of Babesia. Cases of transfusion-transmitted and naturally acquired Babesia infection have been reported worldwide in recent years and causing a serious public health problem. Babesia duncani is one of the important pathogens of human babesiosis, which seriously endangers human health. The in vitro culture systems of B. duncani have been previously established, and it requires fetal bovine serum (FBS) to support long-term proliferation. However, there are no studies on serum-free in vitro culture of B. duncani. In this study, we reported that B. duncani achieved long-term serum-free culture in VP-SFM AGTTM (VP-SFM) supplemented with AlbuMaxTM I. The effect of adding different dilutions of AlbuMaxTM I to VP-SFM showed that 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I had the best B. duncani growth curve with a maximum percentage of parasitized erythrocytes (PPE) of over 40%, and it can be used for long-term in vitro culture of B. duncani. However, the commonly used 20% serum-supplemented medium only achieves 20% PPE. Clearly, VP-SFM with 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I (VP-SFMA) is more suitable for the in vitro proliferation of B. duncani. VP-SFM supplemented with CD lipid mixture was also tested, and the results showed it could support the parasite growth at 1:100 dilution with the highest PPE of 40%, which is similar to that of 2 mg/mL AlbuMaxTM I. However, the CD lipid mixture was only able to support the in vitro culture of B. duncani for 8 generations, while VP-SFMA could be used for long-term culture. To test the pathogenicity, the VP-SFMA cultured B. duncani was also subjected to hamster infection. Results showed that the hamster developed dyspnea and chills on day 7 with 30% PPE before treatment, which is similar to the symptoms with un-cultured B. duncani. This study develops a unique and reliable basis for further understanding of the physiological mechanisms, growth characteristics, and pathogenesis of babesiosis, and provides good laboratory material for the development of drugs or vaccines for human babesiosis and possibly other parasitic diseases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008055 Lipids A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Lipid
D006224 Cricetinae A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS. Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001403 Babesia A genus of tick-borne protozoan parasites that infests the red blood cells of mammals, including humans. There are many recognized species, and the distribution is world-wide. Piroplasma,Babesias,Piroplasmas
D001404 Babesiosis A group of tick-borne diseases of mammals including ZOONOSES in humans. They are caused by protozoa of the genus BABESIA, which parasitize erythrocytes, producing hemolysis. In the U.S., the organism's natural host is mice and transmission is by the deer tick IXODES SCAPULARIS. Babesiasis,Piroplasmosis,Babesia Infection,Babesia Parasite Infection,Human Babesiosis,Babesia Infections,Babesia Parasite Infections,Babesiases,Babesioses,Babesioses, Human,Babesiosis, Human,Human Babesioses,Infection, Babesia,Infection, Babesia Parasite,Infections, Babesia,Infections, Babesia Parasite,Piroplasmoses
D044967 Serum The clear portion of BLOOD that is left after BLOOD COAGULATION to remove BLOOD CELLS and clotting proteins. Blood Serum,Serum, Blood,Serums
D019587 Dietary Supplements Products in capsule, tablet or liquid form that provide dietary ingredients, and that are intended to be taken by mouth to increase the intake of nutrients. Dietary supplements can include macronutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; and/or MICRONUTRIENTS, such as VITAMINS; MINERALS; and PHYTOCHEMICALS. Food Supplements,Neutraceuticals,Dietary Supplementations,Food Supplementations,Herbal Supplements,Nutraceuticals,Nutriceuticals,Dietary Supplement,Food Supplement,Herbal Supplement,Neutraceutical,Nutraceutical,Nutriceutical,Supplement, Food,Supplement, Herbal,Supplementations, Dietary,Supplements, Dietary,Supplements, Food,Supplements, Herbal

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