Cell Culture Contamination

Cell Culture Contimination | Medical Supply Company

In an ideal world mammalian cell culture should be conducted in clean rooms in order to fully control the environment, however the reality is that that is just not possible. Instead cell culture facilities are typically set up in whatever room is available, where often space is limited so considerations for traffic flow or environmental control is done to the best of abilities. While biological safety units can protect the cells from contamination while working within them, if the environment outside them has issues then the likelihood of introducing contaminants skyrockets.  

Considering cell culture is expensive both with respect to resources and monetarily to begin with, the cost of contamination can be extortionate, and while some contaminants are obviously early on, others may never be identified unless looked for. For example, fungi and molds are common contaminants as spores are circulated by heating and air-conditioning systems, and can appear as white, yellow or black furry entities in cell culture vessels. Mycoplasma on the other hand is the ninja of contaminants, it lurks in the background influencing experiments and causing havoc, all while the unsuspecting scientist has no idea of its presence.  

Prevent, Detect, Eliminate 

Fortunately, while it is not always possible to routinely decontaminate labs, there are products on the market to help prevent and reduce general environmental contaminants, as well as identify and eliminate contaminants. 

UVR-M/UVR-Mi UV cleaner-recirculator 

These easy to use UV air flow clean air recirculators consist of 1 or 2 germicidal UV lamps, fans with dual filters and a control unit confined in a flow through chamber. They are designed to fully protect the users from direct UV radiation, are extremely quiet and can conveniently be fixed to walls or placed on an optional tripod. The dual UV lamp model also comes with a UV lamp lifetime counter, lamp fault detection system and integral digital timer which can be set up for non-stop operation or anywhere from 1 min to 24 hrs. These systems are ideal for anywhere from research labs and hospitals to offices. 

Mycoplasma Off™ 

Used for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and devices, this ready-to-use solution is rapidly effective against mycoplasma as well as having a broad bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal properties. Available in a 1L spray bottle, 5L refill bottle or wipes. 

  • Convenient and Rapid 

Mycoplasma Off™ is a ready-to-use solution supplied in a refillable spray bottle or in wipe format. Mycoplasma Off™ is the ideal product to maintain a clean work area by ensuring fast and easy decontamination. Mycoplasma Off™ is immediately effective against mycoplasma (within few seconds after use). 

  • Non-corrosive and Non-carcinogenic 

Mycoplasma Off™ is an alcohol-based, non-corrosive and non-carcinogenic. 

  • Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Activity 

Bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal! Not only has a strong mycoplasmacidal activity but is also effective against Staphylococcus aureusEnterococcus hiraeEscherichia coliProteus mirabilisPseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, BVD-, Polio, Adeno-, Polyoma SV40-, Papova-, MNV (Noro) and vaccinia viridae. 

ZellShield® 

Is a ready-to-use additive for cell culture media that protects cell cultures from a broad range of common contaminants. Its protective effect is based on a combination of novel antibiotics with macrolide properties that inhibit bacterial DNA and protein synthesis. Media supplementation with conventional antibiotics such as penicillin, streptomycin, nystatin, Amphotericin B etc. is not necessary. Available as a single or multipack (x3) of sterile filtered 50 ml aliquots. 

  • Specificity 

ZellShield® is active against most intracellular and extracellular growing gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, mycoplasma, protozoa, fungi, and yeasts. 

  • Wide Range of Applications 

ZellShield® can be used for permanent cell cultures as well as for contamination prevention in freshly prepared primary cell cultures. 

  • No Cell Toxicity 

No cytotoxic effects have been reported on various cell lines so far, provided that the product is used according to the instructions. 

  • Easy-to-use 

Add ZellShield® directly to a freshly prepared cell culture (e.g. flask) or premix with the cell culture medium. 

  • Low Resistance Risk 

ZellShield® contains carefully selected antimicrobials with an extremely low resistance bias. Their combined activity reduces the probability of survival of the resistant mutants. 

  • Stability 

The reagent is stable and active under typical incubation times and conditions 

WaterShield™ 

Water in CO2 incubators and water baths offer ideal conditions for microbial contamination. WaterShield™ is a water additive with reliable disinfecting properties that prevents microbial growth in these reservoirs. Available in a range of pack sizes. 

  • Broad Antimicrobial Activity 

WaterShield™ is active against most bacteria, mycoplasma, protozoa, algae, fungi, and yeast. 

  • Wide Range of Applications 

WaterShield™ can also be used in regular water/heating baths and is compatible with common laboratory surfaces, e.g. tin-plated iron, chrome, nickel steel, high grade steel and copper. 

  • No Cell Toxicity 

The water additive contains quaternary ammonium compounds and surfactants as disinfecting and cleaning ingredients, but no aldehydes, phenols, alcohols or azides. The reagents do not evaporate. All ingredients are safe and do not cause any irritating effects to the skin when used in the recommended concentration. No unpleasant odour noticeable. 

  • No Pipetting 

Simply add the content of a 10 ml bottle of WaterShield™ directly to 2 liters of deionized water. 

  • Long-lasting Activity 

The reagent is usually active for 4 weeks. A blue stain indicates the status of the additive. In case of increasing bioburden a renewal of the water and the additive is required. 

Onar® Bacteria 

PCR kit for conventional, endpoint PCR of bacteria in various in situ biologicals including cell cultures and virus stocks. The kit can detect more than 45 bacteria genera, based on alignment analysis. Available in a range of reaction sizes. 

Kit Components 

  • Lyophilized Mix (Primers/Nucleotides/Internal Control DNA/Polymerase in aliquots of 25 reactions each) 
  • Rehydration buffer 
  • Lyophilized Positive Control DNA 
  • PCR Grade Water 

Microsart® RESEARCH 

The RESEARCH range were designed for contamination control in academia or during drug development and in-process in biopharma or regenerative medicine. The kits are available in 50 or 100 reaction sizes. 

Microsart® RESEARCH Bacteria can rapidly detect contamination of more than 95 % of all known bacterial species within 2½ h. In a Real-time PCR highly specific TaqMan® probes bind to a very conserved DNA-sequence that is common for all bacteria (gram-positive and gram negative).  

Microsart®RESEARCH Fungi can rapidly detect contamination of more almost all criticial fungal contaminants in cell culture within 2½ h. In a Real-time PCR highly specific TaqMan® probes bind to a very conserved DNA-sequence of the fungal genome.  

Venor® GeM 

Venor® GeM range allows fast, reliable and time-saving routine monitoring of mycoplasma contamination and the kits are available in a range of test kit sizes. All PCR kits include all reagents required including internal amplification control. 

Sample Preparation kit: 

37% of all cell culture supernatants, and almost all confluent cell culture supernatants, inhibit PCR. Proficiency studies have demonstrated the importance of further DNA extraction for a sensitive PCR results even for unremarkable sample materials. The Venor®GeM Sample Preparation Kit provides samples highly compatible with Venor®GeM PCR kits.  

Conventional End Point PCR kits:  

  • Venor®GeM Classic – components are in separate lyophilized form 
  • Venor®GeM OneStep – components are provided ready-to-use in a lyophilized reaction mix 
  • Venor®GeM Advance – contains PCR reaction tubes pre-coated with all PCR reagents to reduce the total assay time without need to prepare aliquots of a master mix 

QPCR kits: 

  • Venor®GeM qOneStep – components are provided ready-to-use in a lyophilized reaction mix; the assay can be performed with any type of real-time PCR cycler able to detect the fluorescence dyes FAM™ and HEX™  
  • Venor®GeM qEP – used for direct detection of Mollicutes (Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Spiroplasma) contamination in cell cultures and cell media components; components are provided ready-to-use in a lyophilized reaction mix; the assay can be performed with any type of real-time PCR cycler able to detect the fluorescence dyes FAM™ and HEX™ 

Sensitivity Standards: 

  • Designed for validation of nucleic acid amplification technology (I.e. PCR)-based tests for mycoplasma detection. Contains irreversibly inactivated mycoplasma (various specfic species available) and in either 10CFU™ or 100 CFU™. Also comes with negative control. 

Mynox®/ Mynox® Gold 

Mynox® is an antibiotic-free formulation for mycoplasma eradication from cell cultures. Its activity is based on a biophysical mechanism, which therefore does not enable the development of resistant strains. This sterile, ready-to-use solution is available in a range of application size packs. 

Mynox® Gold is a further developed product formulation of the classic Mynox® reagent that combines a standard antibiotic with the Mynox® ingredients. One application consists of 4 vials: a starter and 3 main treatments. The starter treatment kills most of the mycoplasma particles without harming the cells, whereas the main treatment leads to a permanent eradication of the remaining mycoplasmas. Available in a range of application size packs. 

  • No cytotoxicity – cytotoxicity is at undetectable levels, with no changes in morphology during treatment for most cell types. 
  • Low resistance risk – due to the combination of an antibiotic and a reagent showing a biophysical mode of action directly eliminating the mycoplasma, formation of resistances against Mynox® Gold is most unlikely. 
  • Highly effective – the eradication efficiency is close to 100 % 

Contact your local MSC rep for more information.

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