Isolation of emetine resistant clones of Entamoeba histolytica by petri dish agar method.

ABSTRACT

Emetine resistant clones of Entamoeba histolytica strain HM1IMSS were isolated by using petri dish agar method after mutation with ethyl-methanesulphonate. Two emetine resistant clones were obtained and both were resistant to emetine at a concentration of 24 micrograms/ml of emetine. The 50 per cent inhibitory concentration (IC50) for both emetine sensitive and resistant clones was 5 and 14 micrograms/ml respectively. The colony forming efficiency of E. histolytica strain HM1IMSS varied from 44 to 54 per cent. This method is useful for isolating clones from different strains of the parasite for molecular and immunological studies.