What happens if we increase the concentration of antibiotic in a medium to 2%, as an example? Is it harmful for the cell? Or can it affect the cell as these antibiotics work selectively on bacteria?
ATCC does not use antibiotics or antimycotics for routine cell culture. Long-term use of antibiotics or antimycotics may mask the presence of low levels of microbial or mycoplasma contamination. In addition, some antibiotics and antimycotics are toxic and may affect the recovery and proliferation of some cell lines.However, one may elect to introduce antibiotics for short periods to primary cultures or as a safeguard while propagating specific valuable stocks to produce working stocks.
Hiii..... ofcourse it will affect the cells. The cells will become resistance to the particular antibiotics. Rise of resistant pathogens are of major issue. They may also inhibit the growth. Its better to avoid using antibiotics until and unless its required.
ATCC does not use antibiotics or antimycotics for routine cell culture. Long-term use of antibiotics or antimycotics may mask the presence of low levels of microbial or mycoplasma contamination. In addition, some antibiotics and antimycotics are toxic and may affect the recovery and proliferation of some cell lines.However, one may elect to introduce antibiotics for short periods to primary cultures or as a safeguard while propagating specific valuable stocks to produce working stocks.
Hi
Depending on the cell type it can affect cell proliferation, function and morphology.
Also if you are coculturing different types of cells, using high concentrations of antibiotics may cause defects in cell signaling molecules.
Additionally, some antibiotics may act as signaling agents and change their reaction.
I am working in non-small lung cancer cell (NCI H1650), I have added about 1.5% of antibiotic (Ampicillin+ streptomycin), the cell was o.k after 24hr and it attached and distributed well, but after 48hr the cell died and no contamination was observed, I check everything I have done, and the only thing confusing me is antibiotic, so can any body help me?
Some antibiotics (like streptomycin) are able to activate the calcium sensing receptor, so when the cells express this receptor it's possible that they are activated by increasing concentrations of the antibiotic.
I have grown normal human fibroblasts in 2% antibiotic/antimycotic and it slows growth somewhat, but I haven't seen any other ill effects.
Generally using antibiotics in cell lines may affect the rate of cell growth(at least),also it may have other effect like changing cell pathology/morphology or even change the response to drugs, there for it is not advisable to use antibiotics
Hello Bashir,
ya i agree with above suggestions like you cann't remove bacterial contamination if it is there in your culture by just increasing antibiotic concentration altough excess amount of antibiotic may alter the cell growth or its morphology ..that might be one reason of cell death even after 48 hrs.so better you should discard the flask and go for fresh culture.But before revival of cell , just be sure about culture medium specially about FBS and its concentration.
Best luck...
milind
In my lab we had problems with Aspergillus spp. After that we used culture media with penicillin-streptomycin: Cells of many cancer lines stayed spheric, rarely differentiated and died after some days. We also think that the use of antibiotics was negatively affecting them.
Dear Bashir,
probably you can increase the antibiotic concentation, but before doing so, I would recommend to make a dose response experiment - because high antibiotics concentrations can kill your cells: Have a look here:
https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/technical-documents/articles/biology/antibiotic-kill-curve.html
Of course, cell death is the worst case..but even if your cells survive higher concentrations of antibiotics, they may be harmed, stop growing, have altered morphology and function, so generally speaking, using aseptic techniques without addition of any antibiotic to your medium would be the optimal solution!
best, Sandra
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