Antibiotics

Cell culture media provide an ideal environment also for rods such as bacteria and fungi. Basically, cell cultures can be protected against contamination by strict adherence to sterile technique; but only the discovery of antibiotics made advanced cell culture possible. However, as antibiotics have a toxic potential, their dosage must closely be monitored. To avoid cross contamination, and to monitor sterility, it is strongly recommended to run cell cultures antibiotics-free from time to time.
Antibiotics have a limited shelf life of 3-5 days at +37 °C.

Mode of action:

1. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis, cell wall lysis: Bacitracin, Vancomycin
2. Interference with cell wall permeability: Amphotericin B, Polymyxin, Nystatin
3. Inhibition of cell wall synthesis: Tetracyclines, Aminoglycosides (Gentamycin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin)
4. Blocking of DNA subunit synthesis: Neomycin

Antibiotic solutions are 100x concentrated. If not otherwise indicated, the antibiotics are dissolved in physiological saline. Amount of antibiotics to be used: 1 ml/100 ml of medium.