Combining culture techniques for Bartonella: the best of both worlds

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Apr;49(4):1363-8. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02403-10. Epub 2011 Feb 2.

Abstract

In this study we compared some common Bartonella culturing methodologies using four diverse species causing human illnesses. Based on a review of the literature, we focused on three major inconsistencies between protocols: base medium, cell coculture, and temperature. Our data showed that Bartonella tamiae demonstrated temperature-dependent growth limitations between common culturing conditions only 2°C apart. Additionally, growth of B. quintana was significantly enhanced by the presence of mammalian cell coculture under mammalian cell culture conditions; however, when the medium was modified to incorporate insect cell culture-based medium, coculturing with mammalian cells was no longer needed. In this study, we were able to overcome these temperature- and cell-dependent limitations and accommodate all of the strains tested by combining mammalian cell culture-based medium with insect cell culture-based medium.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteriological Techniques / methods*
  • Bartonella / growth & development
  • Bartonella / isolation & purification*
  • Bartonella Infections / diagnosis*
  • Bartonella Infections / microbiology
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Insecta
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Culture Media