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Mycoplasma can alter many aspects of their host culture's cell, from cell metabolism to chromosomal aberrations, everything is included. Having undetected mycoplasma in your cell culture can easily falsify your research results and so invalidate your complete work.
Due to these reasons, mycoplasma is one of the most serious and devstating culture contaminants.
Due to these reasons, mycoplasma is one of the most serious and devastating culture contaminants.
**It is therefore crucial to regularly check for mycoplasma contaminants in your cell cultures.**
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The most common cause for mycoplasma contamination is the presence of another infected cell line in the laboratory. Sharing the same hood also for an easy spreading of the contamination between cell cultures.
Another important cause is the cell culturist. Talking and sneezing can generate significant amounts of aerosols that have been shown to contain mycoplasma. Additionally, diry lab coats can be a source of contamination when a dust-laden sleeve is put into a laminar flow hood and dust particles fall into cultures.
Another important cause is the cell culturist. Talking and sneezing can generate significant amounts of aerosols that have been shown to contain mycoplasma. Additionally, dirty lab coats can be a source of contamination when a dust-laden sleeve is put into a laminar flow hood and dust particles fall into cultures.
However, good aseptic techniques and training will significantly reduce the risk of contamination via this route.
## Mycoplasma detection
There are two bacis testing methods for mycoplasma:
There are two basic testing methods for mycoplasma:
1. Direct culture in media
2. Indirect tests that measure specific characteristics of mycoplasma
The easiest way of detection is to use a commercially available mycoplasma detection kit. They are, for example, based on PCRs, stainings or specific biochemical assays.
The easiest way of detection is to use a commercially available mycoplasma detection kit. They are, for example, based on PCR, staining or specific biochemical assays.
### Mycoplasma Control Kits
If you are not sure what test methods or kits to use, please do not hesitate to ask your collegues at the LCSB.
If you are not sure what test methods or kits to use, please do not hesitate to ask your colleagues at the LCSB.
Here are some examples of kits used by LCSB researchers:
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@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ Here are some examples of kits used by LCSB researchers:
For more information on these preducts refer to Quarks.
### Control Intervalls
### Control Intervals
The longer the intervalls between tests, the more research has to be put into questions and has to be repeated in case of contamination.
The longer the intervals between tests, the more research has to be put into questions and has to be repeated in case of contamination.
The LCSB, therefore, recommands to test cell cultures for mycoplasma contaminations **at time of arrival** and aftewards at **monthly intervalls**.
The LCSB, therefore, recommends testing cell cultures for mycoplasma contaminations **at time of arrival** and afterwards at **monthly intervals**.
You do not only prevent your own research results to be invalidated, but help your colleagues' cell cultures to remain free of mycoplasma contaminations.
