Mycoplasma Contamination of Primary Cell Cultures

Contamination of cells with mycoplasmas is a serious problem in modern cell biology. The special biological properties of mycoplasmas – small size (0.3–0.8 µm), lack of a rigid cell wall, and high adaptability – are the reasons for their contamination of 10% to 90% of cell lines used in biotechnology and scientific research. Primary cell cultures are especially vulnerable to contamination. Mycoplasmas are capable of changing cell metabolism, affecting their morphology and functional properties. This can lead to serious distortions of research results and cause significant damage to the production of biotechnological drugs. Various methods are used to detect mycoplasmas in cell cultures: cultural, microscopic, molecular biological, and immunological. A combined approach, incorporating various methods, is considered the most effective. Decontamination of mycoplasma contaminants includes mechanical removal, physical methods, and antibiotic therapy. However, treatment is associated with the risk of damaging the cell cultures themselves. The key element of protection against mycoplasma contamination is prevention, including strict control of incoming materials, organization of the workspace, regular monitoring, and professional training of personnel. Modern trends in the fight against mycoplasma contamination are aimed at the introduction of innovative technologies using artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, automated diagnostic systems, and new pharmacological drugs.