Comparison of lipid composition of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus cells obtained from logarithmic and stationary phases of growth.

The total lipids, total neutral lipids, and total phospholipids from Aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus cells cultivated in vitro in a medium containing fetal calf serum were analyzed. The mosquito cells were harvested in the logarithmic and stationary phases of growth. The fatty acid profiles of the lipids showed differences during the aging of the cells but not betweeen species. There was an increase in chain elongation and unsaturation of the fatty acids in the stationary phase when compared with the logarithmic phase of growth. The major components of the fatty acid profiles of the cells were 16:0, 16:1, and 18:1 fatty acids. Few similarities were found between the lipid analysis of the mosquito cells and the growth medium.