Culturing Tetrahymena

Materials

 * Tetrahymena strain


 * Pencillin G sulfate (antibacterial)


 * Fungizome/Amphotericin B (antimycotic)
 * Selective antibiotics (based on strain resistance)


 * SPP or NEFF growth medium

Method

 * 1) Place appropriate volume of growth medium into a petridish or flask. When culturing large volumes of Tetrahymena, the volume of growth medium in the flask should be no more than 1/10th the total volume of the flask.
 * 2) Add Pencillin G and Fungizome to the medium to inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.
 * 3) Inoculate medium with cells (usually 10-100 µ L in Petridishes and 1-10 mL in larger flasks).
 * 4) Place petridishes or flasks at 30 ° C with shaking at 110 rpm. Cells will grow to logarithmic phase depending on health of cultures and volume of inoculum used.
 * 5) Check cells under a microscope to ensure that cultures are healthy.