Stumpy form parasites lacking kDNA have a reduced life span <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A) <i>T</i>. <i>brucei</i> stumpy forms were harvested from mice, purified from blood and cultured in HMI-9 medium containing 50 μM DFMO to suppress slender form growth. Every 8 h cell numbers were determined in a Coulter particle counter. Cell line WT/L262Pγ (kDNA⁰) #3 had lost its kinetoplast spontaneously, without acriflavine treatment. (B) At every time point shown in panel A, 1x10⁶ cells were stained with CFDA-SE and analysed by flow cytometry to determine the percentage of cells that were dead. The gating strategy is shown in supplementary data. Number of replicates n = 3, with error bars showing SEM.