Antibiotics are indispensable in molecular biology, acting as silent guardians that protect valuable cell cultures and cloning experiments from microbial contamination. In every successful genetic manipulation, the right antibiotic ensures both selection accuracy and culture purity.
At Canvax, we understand that research reliability depends on reagent quality. That’s why Canvax Antibiotics are manufactured to the highest purity standards, guaranteeing superior selection efficiency and contamination control — helping you protect your research every step of the way.
Understanding the Role of Antibiotics in Molecular Biology
Antibiotics are crucial tools for selecting genetically modified cells and maintaining sterile environments during molecular cloning, plasmid amplification, or protein expression. Each antibiotic acts on specific bacterial targets, allowing scientists to select for resistance genes or eliminate unwanted growth.
In practice, antibiotics such as ampicillin, kanamycin, or streptomycin are frequently used to maintain selection pressure in E. coli or other host systems, ensuring that only transformed cells carrying the desired plasmid survive.
Main Antibiotics and Their Applications in Research
Ampicillin
Ampicillin Sodium Salt is one of the most widely used β-lactam antibiotics in molecular biology. It inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, making it ideal for plasmid selection in E. coli carrying the bla resistance gene. Canvax™ Ampicillin is manufactured with exceptional purity and performance consistency, ensuring reliable selection results.
Kanamycin
Kanamycin Sulfate is a robust aminoglycoside antibiotic that binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit, causing translation errors and inhibiting bacterial growth. It’s commonly used in plasmids carrying the nptII resistance gene, providing excellent stability in both liquid and solid media.
Hygromycin B
Hygromycin B is a potent aminoglycoside used for selecting stable eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell lines carrying the hph resistance gene. It’s especially valuable in transfection workflows, where precise selection ensures only successfully integrated cells survive.
Chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol is an effective broad-spectrum antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. It’s particularly useful for maintaining low-copy plasmids in E. coli or for bacterial systems where other antibiotics might be less stable.
Quality and Performance You Can Trust: Canvax™ Antibiotics
At Canvax, quality is more than a promise — it’s a standard. Each antibiotic reagent is produced under strict ISO 9001:2016 procedures, ensuring exceptional consistency and traceability.
High-Purity Manufacturing and Stringent QC
Every lot of Canvax™ Antibiotics undergoes rigorous analytical testing to confirm purity, potency, and absence of contaminants. These measures guarantee reproducible experimental outcomes and long-term stability.
Batch-to-Batch Consistency and Traceability
Researchers can rely on Canvax’s robust quality control processes to minimize variability between lots — a critical factor when performing sensitive applications like gene cloning, expression, or stable cell line development.
Compatibility with Molecular and Cell Culture Workflows
Canvax™ Antibiotics are designed to integrate seamlessly into a wide range of applications, from bacterial selection to mammalian cell culture protection. Their solubility, sterility, and performance profiles make them ideal for any modern molecular biology workflow.
How to Select the Right Antibiotic for Your Application
Choosing the right antibiotic depends on:
- The host organism (e.g., E. coli, yeast, CHO cells)
- The resistance marker present in your plasmid
- The experimental goal (selection, maintenance, contamination control)
For example:
- Use Ampicillin or Kanamycin for standard bacterial cloning.
- Use Hygromycin B for eukaryotic transfection selection.
- Combine Streptomycin and Penicillin to prevent contamination in mammalian culture.
Explore the complete Antibiotics collection here to find the most suitable solution for your research needs.
Explore the Complete Canvax™ Antibiotics Range
- Ampicillin Sodium Salt
- Kanamycin Sulfate
- Hygromycin B
- Chloramphenicol
- Complete Antibiotics Catalog →
Each of these reagents is designed to deliver high purity, stability, and reproducibility — features that researchers worldwide associate with Canvax™ quality.
FAQs about Antibiotics for Molecular Biology
1. Can I use Canvax™ Antibiotics for both bacterial and mammalian systems?
Yes. While some antibiotics (e.g., Ampicillin, Kanamycin) are specific for bacterial use, others like Hygromycin B or Streptomycin are also compatible with eukaryotic cells.
2. How are Canvax™ Antibiotics tested for purity?
All products undergo strict analytical verification, including HPLC and sterility assays, to ensure the highest purity and performance consistency.
3. Do Canvax™ Antibiotics contain endotoxins?
Endotoxin levels are tightly controlled and remain within research-grade limits suitable for molecular and cell biology applications.
Why Choose Canvax™ for Reliable Antibiotic Solutions
When it comes to protecting your research, compromise is not an option.
Canvax™ Antibiotics combine European manufacturing excellence, ISO-certified quality systems, and batch-to-batch reproducibility that researchers can trust.
Protect your research with Canvax™ Antibiotics — high-purity, reliable agents for superior selection and contamination control.
