Abstract 2345 Analysis of Potential Fungal and Mycoplasma Contamination After Construction Around the University of Tampa's Biochemistry Laboratory

Keeping mammalian cell lines used in research sterile and axenic is important to ensure the cell's biological functions are not altered. Contaminants can alter the growth and viability of cells, which can impact experimental data collection. Two major contaminants of mammalian cell lines are fungi and the bacterial genus Mycoplasma. Due to recent construction around the University of Tampa (UT), a concern was raised regarding potential contamination of the UT biochemistry (BC) laboratory spaces and the mammalian cell lines being utilized.