Mycoplasma (PPLO) from Covertly Contaminated Tissue Cultures: Differences in Arginine Degradation Between Strains.

Abstract

Summary The lytic reaction of LS178Y cell cultures to certain mycoplasma strains is associated with the release into the medium of arginine degrading enzymes. Mycoplasma isolated from covertly contaminated tissue cultures include strains that degrade arginine and strains that do not. These two types of strains can be distinguished by inoculation into L5178Y cell cultures. The use of biochemical markers, such as arginine degradation, for routine detection of mycoplasma is critically discussed.