In vitro cultivation and characterization of axenic amastigotes of Leishmania

The establishment of axenic cultures of the amastigote stage of Leishmania is important to understand the mechanisms regulating the differentiation, survival and pathogenicity of the parasite with a view to develop and identify molecular and chemotherapeutic targets. Recent developments in axenic culture and the characterization of amastigotes of different species of Leishmania are discussed.