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Culturing, Media, and Handling of Legionella

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Legionella

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 954))

Abstract

This chapter describes methods for culturing Legionella pneumophila in both complex and defined media. The first protocol describes the use of buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar, the solid medium that is most commonly used for culturing L. pneumophila. The next procedure details the cultivation of L. pneumophila in buffered yeast extract (BYE) broth, i.e., the liquid medium version of BCYE agar. We describe how culturing in BYE broth can also be used for investigating proteins that are secreted by the type II secretion system of L. pneumophila. The next part of the chapter explains the cultivation of L. pneumophila in a chemically defined liquid media (CDM). CDM contains a mixture of amino acids, metals, α-ketoglutarate, and pyruvate. Because of its defined nature, CDM provides a simple means for controlling the concentration of nutrients and thereby allows for investigations of physiology and metabolism. To illustrate this point, the use of deferrated CDM for the purpose of assessing Legionella siderophore production is outlined. Finally, the chapter ends with a brief discussion of the storage and shipping of L. pneumophila.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL, USA

    Christa H. Chatfield & Nicholas P. Cianciotto

Authors
  1. Christa H. Chatfield
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  2. Nicholas P. Cianciotto
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas P. Cianciotto .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Biology of Intracellular Bacteria, Institut Pasteur, Rue du Dr. Roux 28, Paris, 75724, France

    Carmen Buchrieser

  2. Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Pettenkoferstrasse 9a, Munich, 80336, Germany

    Hubert Hilbi

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Chatfield, C.H., Cianciotto, N.P. (2013). Culturing, Media, and Handling of Legionella . In: Buchrieser, C., Hilbi, H. (eds) Legionella. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 954. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-161-5_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-161-5_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-160-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-161-5

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