Tissue culture contamination like bacteria inside the cells. What is this kind o - (May/29/2012 )

Hi,

I have noticed some bodies inside my fibroblastic cells, I really need to know what kind of contamination it is in order to not repeat my mistakes. I do think it is a bacterial contamination.

These black/green bodies are inside the cells, just few cells have it. Cells of this plate grow very slowly.

The media looks clear.

Thank you very much for your help

Audrey

Hi audreybe,

I doubt that this is bacterial contamination- the media would be cloudy and the dots would be much, much smaller than the cells and probably moving.
The overall appearance of the fibroblasts are not very happy looking- there are lots of vacuoles and I suspect your cells are either apoptosing or necrosing.
If it is an infection, I would say it looks possibly like a fungal infection.
I would throw these cells and start again with fresh media and give your incubator and hoods a good clean out (if you're not already doing that).
Sorry, but I hope that helps