Culture media selectively ensure long-term viability of S. mansoni NTS without serum or cell supplementation.

NTS were cultured in HM, M199, DMEM or RPMI supplemented with 200 U/ml Penicillin and 200 μg/ml Streptomycin for 4 weeks. (A) The viability of the parasites was scored at the indicated time points and (B) the morphology was observed under light microscopy. Photomicrographs were taken 2 and 4 weeks p.t. Scale bar applies to all shown images. Results are representative of at least three independent experiments. Each data point is shown as mean ± SD of at least three biological replicates. p.t., post-transformation; s.p., score points; HM, HybridoMed Diff 1000. (PZFX)