Mycoplasma contamination is a significant concern in cell culture laboratories, threatening research integrity and generating inaccurate experimental results.
MycoFog. Image Credit: Scintica Instrumentation Inc.
Mycoplasma contamination rates range from 10 % to 36 % of cell lines utilized in laboratory techniques. As a key environment for cell growth, laboratory incubators are vulnerable to Mycoplasma contamination.
This article looks at effective methods for removing mycoplasma contamination from laboratory incubators, resulting in reliable and consistent cell culture research.
1. Cleaning and decontamination procedures
To eradicate mycoplasma contamination, comprehensive cleaning and disinfection procedures are required. The following steps can be taken:
- Regular cleaning: Implement a rigorous cleaning schedule for laboratory incubators, which includes removing all cell culture vessels, shelves, and trays. To remove mycoplasma properly, clean surfaces with appropriate disinfectants, such as 70 % ethanol or other established disinfectants.
- Disinfection: After cleaning, disinfect the incubator using heat, hydrogen peroxide vapor, paracetic acid, or UV light. These procedures are effective at removing mycoplasma and other pollutants.
- Periodic maintenance: Establish a maintenance schedule for incubators to prevent mycoplasma contamination and guarantee proper operation. Filter replacement, seal inspection, and temperature and humidity control calibration are also required regularly.
2. Isolation and quarantine
To prevent mycoplasma infection, isolating possibly infected cell lines and adhering to strict quarantine protocols is necessary.
- Isolation: Identify and isolate mycoplasma-contaminated cell lines from healthy ones. Store infected cultures separately, ideally in sealed containers, to avoid cross-contamination.
- Quarantine: Before integrating new or suspected cell lines into the laboratory, quarantine them for mycoplasma tests. Establish a quarantine area and conduct regular testing to discover and eliminate contamination sources.
- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics may be used to recover contaminated cultures in certain circumstances. If no other source exists for uncontaminated cells, the effort and money spent may be justified.
3. Regular testing
To prevent mycoplasma infection, isolating possibly infected cell lines and adhering to strict quarantine protocols is necessary.
- Test methods: Use proven mycoplasma detection methods, such as polymerase chain reaction or DNA staining assays. These assays are extremely sensitive and specific, allowing for the precise diagnosis of mycoplasma contamination.
- Frequency: Establish a regular testing regimen to detect mycoplasma infection promptly. Regular testing is advised at least once a month, particularly in high throughput facilities with large cell culture operations.
- External testing: Consult external services or laboratories for mycoplasma testing to ensure an unbiased assessment of incubator and cell culture contamination.
4. What makes tackling mycoplasma contamination crucial?
Mycoplasma contamination is a recurrent issue in laboratory incubators and can endanger the quality of cell culture experiments.
Laboratories can considerably reduce contamination risk by following thorough cleaning and decontamination methods, establishing isolation and quarantine protocols, and conducting regular mycoplasma testing.
Maintaining a watchful approach to mycoplasma removal is critical for producing reliable and repeatable experimental results and advancing scientific study.
Image Credit: Scintica Instrumentation Inc.
References
- UPHOFF, C.C. and DREXLER, H.G. (2002). COMPARATIVE PCR ANALYSIS FOR DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA INFECTIONS IN CONTINUOUS CELL LINES. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal, 38(2), p.79. https://doi.org/10.1290/1071-2690(2002)038%3C0079:cpafdo%3E2.0.co;2.
- Olarerin-George, A.O. and Hogenesch, J.B. (2015). Assessing the prevalence of mycoplasma contamination in cell culture via a survey of NCBI’s RNA-seq archive. Nucleic Acids Research, 43(5), pp.2535–2542. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkv136.
- Uphoff, C.C., et al. (2012). Treatment of Mycoplasma Contamination in Cell Cultures with Plasmocin. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, 2012, pp.1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/267678.
About Scintica Instrumentation Inc.
Scintica Instrumentation Inc., a high value distributor of scientific medical equipment, was created as a joint venture between two companies, Indus Instruments and ONS Projects Inc., both with long standing experience in the medical device instrumentation field. Indus Instruments is an engineering and manufacturing company with excellence in designing and producing sophisticated products for both medical and other high-tech clients in aerospace, chemical and oil and gas industries. ONS Projects Inc. is a life science investment and marketing company built on the foundation of two other successful manufacturing companies in the laboratory instrumentation field,
The principals of the two companies each have more than 25 years of experience of manufacturing, selling and supporting scientists in their research around the world. Our team consists of scientists, applications experts, engineers and sales professionals from a cross section of backgrounds, who excel at simplifying transactions and ensuring that scientists have the best equipment for achieving research excellence.
At Scintica Instrumentation, we distribute for selected manufacturers from all over the world and represent them in multiple countries including the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as in Asia through a network of authorized sub-distributors.
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