Microcarrier cell culture: Vero cells on cytodex® 1

Summary All the necessary steps required for the cultivation of Vero cells on microcarriers are described. These procedures are used routinely in our laboratories for the growth of Vero cells on Cytodex 1. Consistent, high density, final yields of more than 10⁶ cells/ml of culture medium are obtained. The protocols described here can be modified for the growth of a variety of anchorage-dependent cell types. Culture parameters important for the successful exploitation of microcarrier cell culture technology are discussed.     

Inhibitory monoclonal antibody against a (myristylated) small-molecular-weight antigen from Plasmodium falciparum associated with the parasitophorous vacuole membrane.

A small-molecular-weight antigen that occurs in asexual blood stages in synchronized cultures of Plasmodium falciparum was detected by a monoclonal antibody which inhibits parasite growth in vitro. This antigen, QF116, showed a molecular weight of 15,000 in parasite strain FCR-3K+ from The Gambia and 19,000 in strain FCQ-27 from Papua New Guinea. The protein did not show significant glycosylation by galactose or glucosamine labeling but was found to be acylated by myristic acid. By using immunogold labeling and electron microscopy, the location of the antigen could be attributed to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane and to inclusions and vesicles residing within the cytoplasm of the erythrocyte host cell.