Mycoplasma - contamination of cell cultures

The safety of biological products derived from animal cells is associated with the properties of the cells themselves or their components, as well as with the possible presence of contaminants of microbial and viral origin. The suitability of cell substrate for production of prophylactic preparations is often determined by the features of the production process, which allows to benefit/risk ratio of the product. One of the common contaminants of cell substrates are mycoplasmas, type Mollicutes. As distinguished from other microorganisms they don’t have cell membranes, and parasitize a wide range of animals and plants, on the surface or inside the cells. Some mycoplasma species of are potentially pathogenic to humans, they compete for nutrients with cells in vitro , cause chromosomal aberrations, interfere with normal cell metabolism. The detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell substrates when manufacturing prophylactic preparations is required by regulatory documents.