EC Microbiology

Mycoplasmas, the simplest and smallest living prokaryotes are the most common contaminants that pose a serious impediment in the long-term maintenance of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) cultures. The comparative efficacy of two antibiotics - Mycoplasma Removal Agent (MRA) and ciprofloxacin at different concentrations for eliminating Mycoplasma contamination in Pf cultures was determined. Mycoplasma contaminated and uncontaminated Pf cultures were maintained for 12 days and Giemsa-stained thin smears were prepared daily to monitor parasite growth. The presence of Mycoplasma was ascertained daily by 16S rRNA PCR kit. We found that MRA successfully eliminated Mycoplasma from contaminated culture at both 0.5 (7-day treatment) and 1 µg/mL (5-day treatment) concentrations, without affecting parasite growth but treatment with three different concentrations of ciprofloxacin (5, 10 and 20 µg/mL) showed an anti-plasmodial activity limiting its usefulness in Pf cultures.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum; Mycoplasma Removal Agent (MRA); Ciprofloxacin; Mycoplasma; Culture Contamination

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