I had to marry into this knowledge, but ...
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Sara O'Rourke" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: April 4, 2008 3:20:08 PM PDT
> To: William Scott <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [ccp4bb] Off-topic: fungus contamination of SF9 cells
>
> [I] didn't send the picture but it sounds like fungus. Take a break
> from tissue culture to clean up the lab and let spores settle, and
> buy in a new stock of SF9 from ATCC. If you have contaminated
> stocks get rid of them. Incubators are notorious, completely drying
> them out, leaving them dry and hot for a week may help.
> It could be a contamination in a cell stock or media stock
> solution, make new aliquots from a fresh stock in a clean area. It
> could be entering by chance.
> Restrict access to the culture facility, fungal spores get carried
> in on clothes shoes, hair etc. Clean the lab, and let it settle
> before using it. Wear a clean lab coat, hair tied back and gloves,
> use overshoes if necessary. Keep the windows to the lab closed and
> make sure no work is done after ceiling tiles have been disturbed.
> If you are using glass flaks you can bake them for 2hrs at 200
> centigrade.
>
> Adding anti-fugal agent is usually ineffective, bleach the infected
> culture and leave it to sit 30 minutes before removing the fungus
> for disposal.
> Sara
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>> From: Filipp Frank <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Date: April 4, 2008 12:49:00 PM PDT
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: [ccp4bb] Off-topic: fungus contamination of SF9 cells
>>> Reply-To: Filipp Frank <[log in to unmask]>
>>>
>>> Dear all,
>>>
>>> sorry for this off topic question. I am using baculovirus/insect
>>> cell expression and I have had persisting problems with
>>> contamination that seems to be some kind of fungus. I have a
>>> picture attached showing the filamentous structure of it. This
>>> contamination has persisted for a few months now and always seems
>>> to occur when we go to large 2.8 L flasks (however, there was also
>>> one instant where this was not the case). We have autoclaved all
>>> flasks for 90 minutes each and still we get contamination.
>>>
>>> Does anybody have experience with this kind of contamination? And
>>> what would you suggest for us to do?
>>> We will (again) disinfect our incubator and the hood. Also we are
>>> thinking about using an antimycotic/antifungal drug to get rid of
>>> this problem.
>>>
>>> Thanks a lot for any suggestion!
>>>
>>> Filipp
>>
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