Mycoplasma Contaminations of Cell Cultures

摘要

One group of bacteria regularly escapes routine inspections of cell cultures for contaminations: mycoplasmas. These organisms belong to the smallest known bacteria and their common distinguishing mark is the lack of a rigid cell wall. Their metabolic capabilities are highly reduced and to cover the requirements for nutritions and basic components of the metabolism, mycoplasmas live in close community with other higher organisms. The artificial environment of cell cultures provide optimal conditions for the growth of a number of mycoplasma strains, due to almost unlimited supply of nutrients and the absence of an immune system. Since the contaminations often remained undetected, mycoplasmas spread in cell cultures over the years and became the biggest problem in cell culture technology with more than 20% infection rate among continuous cell lines.