 The amoeba cannot be cultured on an agar plate coated with E. coli because unlike "Naegleria" or "Acanthamoeba" - "Balamuthia mandrillaris" does not feed on bacteria (at least in laboratory conditions).Instead, "Balamuthia" must be cultured on primate hepatocytes or human brain microvascular endothelial cells (the cells that constitute the blood–brain barrier).Vero cells have been suggested as a possible cheaper and faster alternative to culture the organism.