Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

Cell Culture Techniques and Practices to Avoid Contamination by Fungi and Bacteria in the Research Cell Culture Laboratory
13:39

Cell Culture Techniques and Practices to Avoid Contamination by Fungi and Bacteria in the Research Cell Culture Laboratory

Published on: July 7, 2023

The prophylactic use of antibiotics in cell culture

I Kuhlmann1

  • 1Tierforschungsanlage, Universität Konstanz, 78343, Konstanz, Germany.

Cytotechnology
|February 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Prophylactic antibiotic use in cell culture can alter cell morphology, function, and synthesis. Researchers should avoid this practice to maintain standardized and comparable experimental conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Antibiotics are frequently used in cell culture to prevent contamination.
  • The historical development and widespread use of antibiotics in cell culture are reviewed.
  • Potential unintended consequences of antibiotic use on cellular processes are a growing concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the historical development of prophylactic antibiotic use in cell culture.
  • To summarize the effects of antibiotics on cell morphology, function, and viability.
  • To evaluate the impact of antibiotics on cellular processes like DNA and protein synthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical antibiotic use in cell culture.
  • Summary of reported effects on cell morphology and function.
  • Analysis of impacts on cellular DNA and protein synthesis.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotics can negatively influence cell morphology, induce degeneration, and cause cell death.
  • Cellular DNA and protein synthesis are significantly affected by antibiotic exposure.
  • Metabolic processes can be altered or interfered with by antibiotic treatment.
  • The use of antibiotics compromises the standardization and comparability of cell culture experiments.

Conclusions:

  • Prophylactic antibiotic use in cell culture can lead to significant cellular alterations.
  • These alterations can interfere with research findings, impacting reproducibility.
  • The prophylactic use of antibiotics in cell culture is scientifically unsound and should be rejected.

More Related Videos

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses08:38

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses

Published on: February 22, 2019

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen07:15

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Published on: March 21, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview
Cell Culture01:21

Cell Culture

Most vertebrate cells grow in vitro attached to a substrate as a monolayer, called adherent cultures. The flasks and plates used to grow cells are chemically treated to facilitate cell attachment. However, a few cell types, such as hematopoietic cells, can grow in a suspension. In contrast to adherent cultures, suspension cultures can grow in non-treated cultureware using magnetic stirrers or spinner flasks to agitate the culture media
Key Techniques in Microbiology01:19

Key Techniques in Microbiology

Aseptic techniques prevent contamination, ensure experimental accuracy, and protect researchers and microbial cultures. These techniques are essential in clinical, industrial, and research settings where sterility is required.Maintaining Sterility in Laboratory PracticesScientists maintain sterility by sterilizing tools with heat or chemicals, disinfecting work surfaces, and handling cultures in controlled environments. Working near an open flame or within a laminar flow hood reduces the risk...
Need for Obtaining Pure Cultures01:29

Need for Obtaining Pure Cultures

Pure cultures, defined as the growth of a single microorganism species isolated from mixed populations, are fundamental tools in microbiological research and practical applications. These cultures ensure genetic and physiological uniformity, allowing researchers to study microbial traits under controlled conditions.Isolation and Maintenance of Pure CulturesObtaining a pure culture involves isolating a single microbial type from a mixed sample through techniques such as serial dilutions, streak...
Cell Lines01:16

Cell Lines

A cell line is a population of cells grown in vitro that can be subcultured over several generations. Normal cells cease to divide after a certain number of cell divisions, a process known as replicative senescence. This number, called the Hayflick limit, was conceptualized by Leonard Hayflick in 1961 when he observed that fetal cells grown in culture could only divide 40-60 times. This limit is due to the shortening of the telomeres during each round of cell division, preventing cell division...
Biological Methods for Microbial Control01:28

Biological Methods for Microbial Control

Biological agents offer an effective means of controlling microbial growth by leveraging natural processes like predation, competition, and the secretion of antimicrobial substances.Predatory bacteria such as Bdellovibrio species target and kill pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. They are widely used in poultry farms to control infections. Myxococcus species help combat plant-pathogenic fungi. These naturally occurring predators serve as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides and...