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Long-term, low-maintenance storage of Acanthamoeba strains

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Abstract

A simple, low cost method is described for the long-term storage of the potential human pathogen Acanthamoeba. Amoebae are placed in dried, sterile clay pellets within which they form cysts that remain viable and pure for at least 5 years. This method compares favorably with other storage methods and requires no specialist equipment. We have demonstrated that amoeba stored by this method retain both their pathogenic potential and their small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence type.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by Amoebics Ltd, Edinburgh, Scotland and a Ph.D. grant from the Dirección General de Universidades del Gobierno de Canarias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Institute of Tropical Diseases and Public Health of the Canary Islands, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain

    Jacob Lorenzo-Morales

  2. School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH8 9XD, UK

    Sutherland K. Maciver

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  1. Jacob Lorenzo-Morales
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  2. Sutherland K. Maciver
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Correspondence to Sutherland K. Maciver.

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Lorenzo-Morales, J., Maciver, S.K. Long-term, low-maintenance storage of Acanthamoeba strains. Parasitol Res 99, 743–745 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0212-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0212-1

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