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Updated: May 14, 2026
Selective Cell Elimination from Mixed 3D Culture Using a Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Technique
Published on: March 14, 2016
Mycoplasma removal from cell culture using antimicrobial photodynamic therapy
Akira Hasebe1, Isao Ishikawa, Haque M Shamsul
1Division of Oral Molecular Microbiology, Department of Oral Pathobiological Science, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Kita-ku, Sapporo Japan.
Objective:
The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the removal of mycoplasmas from contaminated cells.
Background Data:
Mycoplasmas often contaminate cell cultures. The cell-contaminating mycoplasmas are removed by antibiotics, but the use of antibiotics usually induces antibiotic-resistant bacteria. aPDT is expected to be a possible alternative to antibiotic treatments for suppressing infections.
Materials And Methods:
Mycoplasma salivarium (Ms)-infected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were irradiated using a red light-emitting diode (LED) in the presence of methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer. The Ms viable count was determined using culture on agar plates or using a mycoplasma detection kit.
Results:
aPDT performed using red LED irradiation was effective in decreasing live Ms in the presence of MB without damaging the HEK293 cells. aPDT removed live Ms from the infected cells after washing the cells with sterilized phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to decrease the initial number of live Ms before aPDT.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that aPDT could remove mycoplasmas from contaminated cells.
