Fig 2. Optimized 2-D culture system for O. volvulus.

(A) Schematic 2-D culture system. 1) HUVEC feeder layer; 2) culture insert with porous membrane; 3) L4 larvae loaded into the insert. (B) Loss of 80% of larvae during culture from L3 to early pre-adult stages over 8 weeks of culture using the 2-D culture system. The results presented are an average of 18 batchs of larvae (300–600 L3s per batch) that were cultured and monitored weekly for motility.