I am experiencing contamination issues while working with a fungus I intend to use for infecting animals. I am considering adding antibiotics to the growth medium to address this. Has anyone tried this approach or have recommendations on its effectiveness and potential risks.
In our lab we’re growing fungal pathogen of snakes (Ophidiomyces ophidiicola) on Sabouraud agar media with Gentamicin and Chloramphenicol. It’s been working well so far. We sterilize antibiotic solutions by filtering and then add 20 ml of each antibiotic per 1 L of media when it cools down to 60-65 C after autoclaving.
To address contamination issues, ensure that your working environment is thoroughly disinfected. Prepare a fresh culture from your most recent sample or, preferably, from a reliable stock culture. Carefully examine the freshly prepared culture for any contaminants and systematically identify the microorganism(s) involved.
Based on your findings, develop a selective medium tailored to the organism(s) of interest. While formulating the selective medium, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of antimicrobials and their appropriate dosages. Optimize the antimicrobial dosage for your system using a trial-and-error approach.
In my work, I use antifungal agents such as Nystatin and Fluconazole, and antibiotics like Nalidixic Acid and Nitrofurantoin. However, the selection of antimicrobial should be based on the identity of the contaminant(s) present in your system.
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