Team:Hong Kong JSS/Safety
Safety Organisms
Our experiments involve using Escherichia coli strain BL21 and K12, which can be handled in Biological Safety Level One (BSL-1) containment. They are not known to consistently cause disease in immunocompetent adult humans, and present minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment. To make sure that everything is safe enough to use, we have always been communicating with our advisors about the proper usage, storage and disposal of bacteria.
Safe Project design
Safety is our first priority. Although the species we used is the widely used, non harmful E. coli, we still treat it as potentially dangerous when it is released to the environment. We always remind ourself that some E. coli is pathogenic, especially to children and the elderly.
Therefore, we make sure at all times that no bacteria we used can be released out of the laboratory. While doing any experiment with E. coli, we ensure that the bacteria do not expose to the environment by setting up a sterile space using 70% alcahol and working under a Bunsen flame. All used Petri dishes are parafilm before storage. When we conduct our experiments, including the copper adsorption test and testing of our B-CAD, all biohazardous waste will be collected and disinfected before disposal. We also carried out our tests in a closed system so that no bacteria will be releasing to any aquaponic systems or open environment.
Moreover, we are using heavy metals ions solution which when accidentally ingested, may lead to heavy metal intoxication. Therefore, eating or drinking in the laboratory or experiment area is strictly prohibited.
Therefore, we make sure at all times that no bacteria we used can be released out of the laboratory. While doing any experiment with E. coli, we ensure that the bacteria do not expose to the environment by setting up a sterile space using 70% alcahol and working under a Bunsen flame. All used Petri dishes are parafilm before storage. When we conduct our experiments, including the copper adsorption test and testing of our B-CAD, all biohazardous waste will be collected and disinfected before disposal. We also carried out our tests in a closed system so that no bacteria will be releasing to any aquaponic systems or open environment.
Moreover, we are using heavy metals ions solution which when accidentally ingested, may lead to heavy metal intoxication. Therefore, eating or drinking in the laboratory or experiment area is strictly prohibited.
Biosafety
We are using a Biosafety level 1 laboratory. Safety rules include wearing lab coats and gloves while doing experiment, cleaning with 70% alcahol before and after handling bacteria and washing hand with soap before leaving the laboratory, etc.
We also received a series of safety trainings before joining the team. For example, risk assessment, general precautions, fire precautions, handling chemical spills, disposal of chemical wastes and experiments on biotechnology.
We also received a series of safety trainings before joining the team. For example, risk assessment, general precautions, fire precautions, handling chemical spills, disposal of chemical wastes and experiments on biotechnology.
Other safety concerns
The MyMT strain, one of the parts we are using, is extracted from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a risk group 3 organism. However, the strain is directly bought from local DNA synthesis company, thermofisher, where members of our team never had a chance to deal with the actual organism itself. And upon our paper research, we are sure that the ordered strain itself does not have the toxin from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition to that, MyMT gene was previously used by 2016 Oxford_iGEM team and based on their study, this gene is not related to any pathogenic properties of the bacteria. Therefore, there is no health risk of our team using the E. coli strain expressing only one MyMT gene from M. tuberculosis.
On the other hand, the CgMT and vanabin strain are in the risk group 1 and 2 respectively, therefore, as we are following the lab safety rules and using aseptic techniques in all lab work involving the bacteria, there is also not any health risk for our team using the strains.
On the other hand, the CgMT and vanabin strain are in the risk group 1 and 2 respectively, therefore, as we are following the lab safety rules and using aseptic techniques in all lab work involving the bacteria, there is also not any health risk for our team using the strains.