Antibiotics for use in culture media?

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the use of antibiotics in culture media to prevent contamination while growing protozoa. Participants recommend using ampicillin and streptomycin, noting that streptomycin does not disrupt protein synthesis in Macrophomina phaseolina. The importance of selecting antibiotics that target bacterial cell walls and do not affect eukaryotic mitochondria is emphasized, ruling out aminoglycosides like kanamycin. For sourcing, Invitrogen is suggested as a reliable supplier for affordable antibiotics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of protozoan culture techniques
  • Knowledge of antibiotic mechanisms, specifically regarding gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria
  • Familiarity with selective media and its applications in microbiology
  • Basic research skills for literature searches on antibiotic use in culture media
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the use of ampicillin in selective media for protozoa
  • Investigate the effects of streptomycin on fungal cultures
  • Explore alternative antibiotics that target bacterial cell walls
  • Learn about the resources available on Invitrogen for antibiotic procurement
USEFUL FOR

Microbiologists, researchers in protozoan culture, and anyone involved in laboratory work requiring contamination control in microbial studies.

Spirochete
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I have a couple questions about using antibiotics in culture media to prevent contamination while growing protozoa:

1) Where would be a good place to look for cheap generic antibiotics to use for this purpose?

2) I'm looking for an antibiotic that kills most gram negatives but has no effect on eukaryotic mitochondria. This rules out kanamycin and other aminoglycosides because they act on the 16S ribosomal subunit which is present in mitochondria. If it kills gram positives too that's great. I also value cheapness.
 
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I would start with a literature search on selective media used for you particular protozoan?

In my research, I've used selective media for a particular fungus Macrophomina phaseolina, To eliminate bacteria, this included acidification and the aminoglycoside, streptomycin. Evidently protein synthesis of Macrophomina is not disrupted by this class of antibiotic. I don't recall where I ordered the streptomycin. If this is for educational research, you may be able to get a discount by ordering directly from the manufacturer.
 
Anything targeting the bacterial cell wall should do fine. Like e.g. ampicillin.
 
Spirochete said:
I have a couple questions about using antibiotics in culture media to prevent contamination while growing protozoa:

1) Where would be a good place to look for cheap generic antibiotics to use for this purpose?

2) I'm looking for an antibiotic that kills most gram negatives but has no effect on eukaryotic mitochondria. This rules out kanamycin and other aminoglycosides because they act on the 16S ribosomal subunit which is present in mitochondria. If it kills gram positives too that's great. I also value cheapness.

I agree with Monique- check Invitrogen's website. They have a lot of tutorial information available.

I use ampicillin (resistance) to select out transfected bacteria, which may work for you as well.
 

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