The maintenance of Treponema pallidum motility was investigated in an acellular medium based on T. pallidum immobilization test medium. The acellular medium contained cysteine, glutathione, thioglycollate and dithiothreitol as reducing agents and had a redox potential of −275±25mV at pH 7·3. In an atmosphere containing 3% O2, motile treponemes survived four times longer when calf serum and bovine serum albumin were added to the medium. The selective omission of glutathione and, particularly, thioglycollate prolonged the survival of motile treponemes almost fivefold. In addition, stored medium, in which thioglycollate had become inactive, sustained motile treponemes for longer than did freshly prepared medium. Thus, thioglycollate is toxic for the organisms. It may be omitted from the medium because low redox potentials can be achieved without it.
FitzgeraldT.J.,
JohnsonR.C.,
SykesJ.A.,
MillerJ.N.1977; Interaction of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) with cultured mammalian cells: effects of oxygen, reducing agents, serum supplements and different cell types. Infection and Immunity 18:467–478
GravesS.R.,
SandokP.L.,
JenkinH.M.,
JohnsonR.C.1975; Retention of motility and virulence of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) in vitro. Infection and Immunity 12:1116–1120
MetzgerM.,
SmogórW.1966; Study of the effect of pH and Eh values of the Nelson Diesendruck medium on the survival of virulent Treponema pallidum. Archivum immunologiae et therapiae experimentalis 14:445–453
SandokP.L.,
KnightS.T.,
JenkinH.M.1976; Examination of various cell culture tech-niques for co-incubation of virulent Treponema pallidum (Nichols I strain) under anaerobic conditions. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 4:360–371
SandokP.L.,
JenkinH.M.,
MatthewsH.M.,
RobertsS.M.1978; Unsustained multiplication of Treponema pallidum (Nichols virulent strain) in vitro in the presence of oxygen. Infection and Immunity 19:421–429
WilkinsonA.E.,
TaylorC.E.D.,
McSwigganD.A.,
TurnerG.C.,
RycroftJ.A.,
LoweG.H.1972; In Laboratory Diagnosis of Venereal Disease. Public Health Laboratory Service, Monograph Series No. 1 pp. 13–14 London: H.M.S.O.;