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Ames Test (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test): Why, When, and How to Use

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Genotoxicity and DNA Repair

Part of the book series: Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology ((MIPT))

Abstract

The Salmonella typhimurium/mammalian microsome assay is the most widely used short-term test to identify genetic damage. This is used to assess the mutagenic and antimutagenic potential of compounds and mixtures. This assay uses histidine-dependent strains to detect mutations, e.g., substitutions, additions, or deletions of one or several DNA nucleotides reverting originally changed gene sequence of the tester strains. The addition of a mutagenic chemical agent to a plate of cultured cells results in the growth of mutant colonies; the number of such colonies is an indicator of the mutagenic potency of the agent. The Ames test has many advantages, it is a very versatile assay, its different modifications have been developed to determine mutagenic potencies, and it is recommended by several regulatory agencies. This chapter provides a detailed description of how the standard plate incorporation method should be performed, including the experimental design and interpretation of results.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their thanks to Dr. Oscar Herrero, Dr. Eduardo de la Peña Jr., Ms. Antonia Martinez, and the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (CSIC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Environmental Mutagenesis, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Serrano 117, Madrid, 28006, Spain

    Araceli Pillco & Eduardo de la Peña

Authors
  1. Araceli Pillco
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  2. Eduardo de la Peña
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Correspondence to Araceli Pillco .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain

    L. María Sierra

  2. Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Isabel Gaivão

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Pillco, A., de la Peña, E. (2014). Ames Test (Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test): Why, When, and How to Use. In: Sierra, L., Gaivão, I. (eds) Genotoxicity and DNA Repair. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1068-7_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1068-7_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1067-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1068-7

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