The Ames test is widely used for identifying mutagenic activity of chemical agents or medical devices. It is one of the genotoxicity tests required by regulatory agencies to evaluate the carcinogenic potential of a compound.
The bacterial reverse mutation assay uses known standard strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Eschericahia coli to detect point mutations, which involve substitutions, additions or deletions of one or a few DNA pairs. The revertant bacteria are detected by their ability to grow in the absence of a required amino acid, which is required by the parent test strain. The mutation restores the capability of the bacteria to synthesize the essential amino acid. The compounds are evaluated in cultures with and without a mixture of enzymes which may convert the compound into metabolites.
Note: This mini-Ames test (Non-GLP) is offered with two strains of bacteria and is commonly used to allow sponsors to select between compounds for development. It offers significant advantages compared to the full, GLP-compliant Ames test for the following reasons: results can be obtained quickly; it’s highly cost effective; and it only requires small sample quantities for completion. The mini-Ames test is a good tool to evaluate mutagenicity of new compounds in early stage drug development.
