Elimination of mycoplasmas from cell cultures utilizing hyperimmune sera.

Eighteen cell lines contaminated with various mycoplasmas have been treated with hyperimmune sera and mycoplasmas have been eradicated from all. After treatment the cell lines have been observed for a least one year and they are still free from mycoplasma contamination as ascertained by four independent mycoplasma detection assays. The hyperimmune sera used were of high titer, type-specific and growth-inhibiting. These sera were produced by immunization of rabbits with purified membranes from Mycoplasma orale, M. arginini, M. hominis, M. fermentans, M. hyorhinis and Acholeplasma laidlawii. In addition to elimination of mycoplasmas from cell cultures we have successfully used these sera for detection and typing of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures.