Human urine stimulates growth of Leishmania in vitro

Abstract

Enhancement of trypanosomatid metacyclogenesis by insect urine components led us to test the effect of human urine as a culture additive. The addition of 1-5% urine to Schneider's Drosophila medium containing 10% foetal calf serum enhanced the growth of 11 Leishmania strains representing 8 different taxonomic groups. Cell division was stimulated in cultures with non-dividing organisms. Peak cell density was increased, as was the efficiency with which L. donovani could be isolated from infected hamsters. Preliminary work suggested that the modified medium would be useful for field isolation of L. donovani and L. braziliensis. The active nutrients or growth factors are not known.

Leishmania spp: completely defined medium without serum and macromolecules (CDM/LP) for the continuous in vitro cultivation of infective promastigote forms.

“…Other strains or species have been adapted to continuous growth in less rich media containing serum or with serum replaced by bovine serum albumin, 20,21 bacteriologic media, or more recently, human urine. 32,33 The complexity of the media used to cultivate members of the genus Leishmania has complicated the feasibility of comparative studies on nutritional requirements, metabolism, and other characteristics of these organisms, especially those isolated from mammals.…”

“…These media were enriched with large concentrations of certain amino acids, vitamins, bovine albumin, hormones, peptide supplements, [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] or more recently, with human urine. 32,33 In the present paper, we report a completely chemically defined culture medium free of serum, macromolecules, proteins, and peptides that readily supports the growth and maintenance of promastigote forms of various Leishmania species without compromising parasite growth rates. Morphologic, biochemical, immunologic, and biologic properties of aserically grown promastigote forms are presented.…”

Effect of Human Urine on Cell Cycle and Infectivity of Leismania Species Promastigotes In Vitro

“…6 Several studies have shown the stimulatory effect of human urine on Leishmania promastigotes. [7][8][9][10][11] When supplemented with human urine, Schneider's Drosophila culture media was found to increase the proliferation of different Leishmania parasite species. In the same study, it was found that culturing amastigotes that were isolated from Leishmania -infected hamsters in a culture environment containing urine increased promastigote differentiation and proliferation compared with controls.…”

“…In the same study, it was found that culturing amastigotes that were isolated from Leishmania -infected hamsters in a culture environment containing urine increased promastigote differentiation and proliferation compared with controls. 7 Another study questioned whether urine from a healthy human donor, a patient with nephritis, and several types of animals could be an alternative to fetal calf serum (FCS) for in vitro L. donovani culture. Results have indicated that urine was not a valid alternative to FCS, but can be used to increase the proliferation in L. donovani cultures.…”

Estudo comparativo de técnicas de demonstração de amastigotas e isolamento de promastigotas no diagnóstico da leishmaniose tegumentar americana

“…2,3 Howard e colaboradores demonstraram que a urina humana estimula a divisão celular in vitro de Leishmania, podendo facilitar o cultivo primário de células infectadas. 5 Armstrong e colaboradores relataram que a urina humana estéril adicionada ao meio de cultura também estimula a divisão celular de formas promastigotas e facilita o cultivo primário de células infectadas de tecido animal, podendo substituir o soro fetal bovino nos meios de cultura. 6 Foram usadas, em ambos casos, cepas já identificadas e mantidas em criopreservação.…”