Mycoplasmas in cell culture are – among other things – affecting cell growth and cell physiology seriously leading to unsatisfying and less significant results. The increasingly widespread use of more sophisticated and sensitive methods for the detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures has resulted in contamination being detected in numerous cultures. This raises the issue of how to eliminate mycoplasma contamination. Naturally, the ideal solution is to discard the contaminated cells. However, if the valuable cells that are stored in liquid nitrogen are also contaminated, a solution is required for eliminating the mycoplasmas and preparing a new cell bank, particularly if the cells are unique and the result of extensive work. The most commonly used method for elimination, inactivation, or suppression of mycoplasmas in cell cultures is treatment with distinct antibiotics. In general, antibiotic therapies do not result in long-lasting, successful elimination. Also, the cytotoxic properties of antibiotics can cause undesirable side effects on eukaryotic cells and may facilitate the development of resistant mycoplasma strains.

The new Mycoplasma-EX method for mycoplasma elimination overcomes all of these drawbacks combining a non-antibiotic and a thoroughly adjusted antibiotic treatment resulting in unique features as compared to other methods and products. Mycoplasma-EX is the first biological reagent that eliminates mycoplasmas by directly killing them, and not just by inhibiting their growth. It is the only anti-mycoplasma agent that can be used to clean virus stocks and most eukaryotic cell cultures directly while showing an extremely low cytotoxicity. Mycoplasma-EX has been shown to be effective with only one treatment, destroying mycoplasmas permanently within 2-3 hours using the non-antibiotic Initial Treatment Reagent only. When using in addition the antibiotic Succession Treatment Reagent, the teatment time extends to – depending on the cell type – two to four weeks. Mycoplasma-Ex is applicable for most cell lines (e.g. Vero, BHK21, GBK, ML, Hep2, 293, CRFK, H9, Molt4, MT-4, Jurkat) and primary cells as well as virus stocks (e.g. SHV-1, BHV-1, HSV-1, VSV, SFV, FCV, MEV). Success of mycoplasma elimination has to be determined after the initial and – if required – succession treatment using a sensitive mycoplasma detection kit.

Benefits of Mycoplasma-EX:– highly effective against M. orale, M. hyorhinis, M. hominis, Acholeplasma laidlawii, M. arginini, M. fermentans, and other mycoplasma species usually encountered as contaminants in cell cultures– combined non-antibiotic and antibiotic treatment– significantly reduced treatment time– ease of use– temperature stable, ready-to-use solution– no additional dosing during the treatment necessary– low cytotoxicity: kills mycoplasmas very efficiently – but is safe for cells

Mycoplasma-EX is a sterile, ready-to-use solution, aliquoted per tube for single use. Store the original container at temperatures of2 to 8°C.