In my human cell line, I've observed masses that look different from the cells. When seen with the naked eye, they appear to be white spots. When seen under a scope, they appear to be dense clumps. Some have filaments in them. See attached pictures.
In another cell line that I've been keeping and passaging simultaneously, these structures were not observed.
Could those be fungus contamination? Thanks.
I am not really sure about the first photo, but it looks like water droplets to me. And based on my experience, the 'filaments' in the second photo is actually the FBS precipitation due to repeated freeze-thaw cycles. It's not a contaminant, so you are fine. I'd suggest that you aseptically take a small bit of this medium and grow in a luria broth (or other nonspecific broth you have) at 37'C for at least 2 hours. If the broth turns turbid, the medium must have had something.
This is not the contamination. Generally, It is a cotton thread of pipette and around the thread the precipitation of protein as suggested by @Nurul Adhwa Rahman.
Some time you see that this thread like structure increases. If this happens discard the flask and grow new lot.
I Do agree with Nurul Adhwa Rahman and Hari, It looks to me like that only. If cells are growing fine and there is no abnormal change in media, trypsinize the cells (after one or two washes of PBS) and pass it. This time use the media with certified serum or filter the serum with 0.22 filter.
I do no see any HCT116 cells at the same levels. Seems to be some dirt (from gloves, paper etc) on the flask, not on the cells.
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