Abstract
The maintenance of contamination-free cell lines is essential to cell-based research. Among the biggest contaminant concerns are mycoplasma contamination. Mycoplasma do not usually kill contaminated cells, they are difficult to detect and can cause a variety of effects on cultured cells, including altered metabolism, slowed proliferation and chromosomal aberrations. In addition, since mycoplasma have no cell wall and are therefore resistant to many antibiotics. In short, mycoplasma contamination compromises the value of those cell lines in providing accurate data for life science research.
The sources of mycoplasma contamination in the laboratory are very challenging to completely control. As certain mycoplasma species are found on human skin, they can be introduced through poor aseptic technique. Additionally, they can come from contaminated supplements such as fetal bovine serum, and most importantly from other contaminated cell cultures. Once mycoplasma contaminates a culture, it can quickly spread to contaminate other areas of the lab. Strict adherence to good laboratory practices such as good aseptic technique are key, and routine testing for mycoplasma is highly recommended for successful control of mycoplasma contamination.
Current methods for the inactivation or elimination of mycoplasma in cell cultures are antibiotic-based. Antibiotic therapies do not always result in successful elimination of contaminants. Moreover, antibiotics exhibit cytotoxic properties in that they are capable of modifying the metabolism of eukaryotic cells and they promote the development of resistant mycoplasma. The LookOut Mycoplasma Elimination Kit is gentle on cells with minimal cytotoxicity usually less than 20% and removes mycoplasma contamination in three passages.
The main ingredient integrates selectively into the mycoplasma membrane to disrupt it through a biophysical process. Given this unique mechanism of action mycoplasma are not likely to become resistant. This ingredient not been shown to cause any changes in normal cell characteristics. In short the LookOut Mycoplasma Elimination Kit is the method of choice for the elimination of mycoplasma contamination in cultured cells.
