Spiroplasmas: cultivation in chemically defined medium.

A chemically defined medium, CC-494, supports the cultivation in vitro of several spiroplasmas belonging to three distinct serogroups. Medium CC-494 supports the growth of flower spiroplasmas FS 23-6 and FS SR-3 and of honey bee spiroplasma HBS AS-576. The maximal populations of the two flower spiroplasmas and honey bee spiroplasma are comparable to those cultured in the undefined medium C-3G. The growth rate for all three spiroplasmas is slower in the defined medium.