Microbiological contamination in stem cell cultures

cjlsoho

Cell therapy and regenerative medicine are potentially two of the most exciting aspects of the novel therapeutic methods currently under
development. However, these treatments present a number of important biosafety issues, like the possible transmission of microorganisms to
the recipients. The most common potential form of contamination in these cell products is by bacteria (including Mycoplasma), yeast and fungi.
In our study, 32 stem cell lines and feeder cell lines were analysed. There were 19 contaminated cell passages (12%). The main contaminants
were gram positive cocci and Mycoplasma species, followed by gram negative rods and gram positive rods. The Mycoplasma contamination rate
was 4%. Stem cell banks and other research centres aim to screen all processed stem cell lines for these microorganisms, and to assure that no
contaminants are introduced in the banking procedures. It is a standard part of current good practice in stem cell banks to carry out routine
microbiological controls of the stem cell lines and to work in a controlled environment to reduce the probability of contamination in the final
product.