Antibiotics & Antimycotics for Safe Cell Culture
Sterile working practices and appropriate reagents are crucial for safe cell culture (free of contamination). At Bio&SELL, you’ll find antibiotics and antimycotics that can be used to control bacterial or fungal contamination and to select specific cell lines. The selection of the appropriate antibiotic or antifungal agent depends on the cell line, the culture medium, and your experimental protocol. Important to know: Antibiotics and antifungals are not a substitute for aseptic working conditions, but rather an additional technique to prevent contamination. However, they do not prevent all contamination and - depending on the active ingredient and concentration - may also affect cell growth or experimental results. Therefore, be sure to follow the product information and validate the application for your cell line.
Our Antibiotics & Antimycotics:
Penicillin/Streptomycin - Ready-to-use antibiotic mix against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
Penicillin/Streptomycin/Fungi Mix - Ready-to-use mix effective against bacterial and fungal contamination
Amphotericin B - Antifungal agent
G418 - Selection antibiotic for suitable resistance systems
Gentamicin - Antibiotic with a broad toxic effect on bacteria
Kanamycin - Antibiotic with a broad toxic effect on bacteria
Hygromycin B - Selection antibiotic for suitable resistance systems
Neomycin - An antibiotic with a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria
Find the right antibiotic or antifungal agent for your cells. When making your selection, please consider cell compatibility, the specific requirements of your experiment, and the product specifications.
FAQs
What are antibiotics used for in cell culture?
Depending on the active ingredient and experimental setup, antibiotics can be used to control bacterial contamination or to select specific cells. However, they are no substitute for aseptic techniques.
When is amphotericin B used in cell culture?
Amphotericin B is an antifungal agent. It helps prevent fungal contamination in your cell culture. Please check the product information and your experimental protocol to determine whether amphotericin B is suitable for your application.
What are selection antibiotics such as G418 or hygromycin B?
Selection antibiotics are suitable for systems with compatible resistance markers. For example, if transformed cells have been transfected with hygromycin B resistance genes (hyp or hph), culturing the cells in the presence of hygromycin B is an effective way to eliminate untransformed cells.
Can antibiotics affect cell growth or experimental results?
Yes. The effect and tolerability of antibiotics depend, among other factors, on the active ingredient, the concentration, and the cell line. Therefore, please check and validate the conditions for your cell line in advance.
