Abstract
Live bacteria in modifiedDiamond’s axenic medium did not support growth ofEntamoeba histolytica. Cysteine hydrochloride, required for the multiplication of amoeba, was broken down by live bacteria and toxic substances were produced which were lethal for amoebae. Monoxenic and xenic cultures ofaxenically grownE. histolytica could be established in Boeck and Drbohlav medium with bacteria and rice starch. Bacterial lipids prepared from 15 human intestinal bacteria supported growth and multiplication ofE. histolytica in axenic medium. In a pilot experiment using lipids ofStreptococcus faecalis, free fatty acids did stimulate the multiplication of amoebae. When total lipids of this bacteria were fractionated into neutral lipids and phospholipids by chromatography and used, neither fraction was found to stimulate growth. Free fatty acids prepared by chemical hydrolysis of the total lipids, neutral lipids and phospholipids stimulated growth ofE. histolytica, The sterols present in the bacterial lipids (neutral lipids or non-saponifiable fractions) stimulated growth of amoebae. It was found thatE. histolytica is incapable of liberating fatty acids from di- or triglyceridesof phospholipids and the multiplication of the organism is stimulated by the presence of free fatty acids and sterols (cholesterol).
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C.D.R.I. Communication No. 2323
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Rai, G.P., Das, S.R. & Garq, N.K. Amoeba-bacteria relationship: Factors in the bacterial lipids supporting the growth of axenicEntamoeba histolytica. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences - Section B 87, 181–187 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178980
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03178980