Preferred Label : Ames/salmonella test;
IUPAC definition : A screening test employed in predicting the mutagenic and the potential carcinogenic
activities of chemicals in the environment. It employs Ames test strains of salmonella
bacteria (his sup - /sup ) which lack the ability to produce histidine. The compound
to be tested, the bacteria and a small amount of histidine (insufficient to permit
colony growth but enough to allow sufficient growth for expression of mutations) are
added to agar. The bacteria are allowed to incubate for about 63 h at 37 C. If a significant
increase in colonies above background is observed in the sample containing the test
compound, then it is concluded that the chemical tested is a direct mutagen for the
particular Ames strain of bacteria. This is taken as a qualitative indication of the
possible carcinogenic activity of this chemical in other biological systems. This
procedure seems to be of qualitative value in a preliminary screening of potential
carcinogens.;
Origin ID : A00262;
See also
A screening test employed in predicting the mutagenic and the potential carcinogenic
activities of chemicals in the environment. It employs Ames test strains of salmonella
bacteria (his sup - /sup ) which lack the ability to produce histidine. The compound
to be tested, the bacteria and a small amount of histidine (insufficient to permit
colony growth but enough to allow sufficient growth for expression of mutations) are
added to agar. The bacteria are allowed to incubate for about 63 h at 37 C. If a significant
increase in colonies above background is observed in the sample containing the test
compound, then it is concluded that the chemical tested is a direct mutagen for the
particular Ames strain of bacteria. This is taken as a qualitative indication of the
possible carcinogenic activity of this chemical in other biological systems. This
procedure seems to be of qualitative value in a preliminary screening of potential
carcinogens.
