Understanding Mycoplasma Testing: Ensuring Cellular Integrity in Research and Biotech
Mycoplasma testing is a critical process in laboratories and biopharmaceutical industries, focusing on the detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures. Mycoplasmas are small, wall-less bacteria that can infiltrate cell cultures silently, often causing significant disruptions in cellular behavior without visible signs. Because these microorganisms lack a rigid cell wall, they are resistant to many common antibiotics, making early detection essential to maintain experimental integrity and biopharmaceutical safety.
The importance of mycoplasma testing is most apparent in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. Contaminated cell lines can lead to unreliable experimental results, misinterpretation of data, and potentially unsafe products if left unchecked. For example, in drug development, unnoticed mycoplasma contamination can alter cellular responses to therapeutic candidates, affecting toxicity assays, gene expression studies, and protein production. Therefore, maintaining mycoplasma-free cultures is not just a procedural requirement—it is a cornerstone…

