The ability to engineer organisms with varying functions becomes greatly more accessible as biology becomes more understood. A significant concern when handling engineered organisms is effective biocontainment. Uncontrolled release of engineered organisms can pose a serious threat to both humans and the environment if the engineered organism possesses competitive advantages over natural organisms. Thus, the MACS team seriously considers containment of the thermally adapted minimal cell.
The wet lab space at the J. Craig Venter Institute requires scientists to comply with mandatory safety training.
Please see Occupational Services Inc. for more information concerning lab safety training.
Training Description: OSHA compliance for handling biological materials (bloodborne pathogens), hazardous chemicals, laboratory emergency response, and hazardous waste management
Ensuring safety within the MACS team extends beyond guidelines for handling dangerous biological material and chemicals. Safety for the MACS team considers the discussion of identifying harassing behavior and actions that can be taken to discourage engagement in harassment. Anti-harassment training educates and reminds everyone what is and what is not acceptable behavior within the workplace. Education on the subject is significant in order to protect all scientists within JCVI and promote a safe work environment. The trianing can be found at ADP
The J. Craig Venter Institute conducts periodic safety and compliance assessments. The Occupational Services, Inc. (OSI) will inspect all wet lab spaces to aid scientists in completing work safely following regulations, standards, permits, and JCVI safety requirements.
All members of the MACS team also participate in research at the University of California; San Diego. In order to participate in UCSD research, scientists must comply and complete the following training courses: UCSD Lab Safety Fundamentals, Hazardous training, Bloodborne pathogens training, and Anti-harassment training.
In the event of increased risk of exposure to COVID-19 and its variants, UCSD provides mandatory training to educate minimizing risk and exposure management to the virus. The training includes the discussion of personal responsibility regarding frequent testing and identification of symptoms. In the event of a positive result, trainees are educated on limiting further spread of COVID-19.
The MACS chassis, JCVI minimal cell, is classified as Biosafety level 2 because it is derived from Mycoplasma mycoides. Thus, safety precautions such as sufficient personal protective equipment, frequent decontamination of the workspace, and clear isolation of the minimal cell workspace is conducted. Beyond these safety precautions, biocontainment of the minimal cell is strengthened by features that are a result of a minimized genome. The minimal cell is very delicate compared to other vectors scientists commonly use. Though mycoplasma, the genus of the minimal cell, includes many organisms that are known for contaminating tissue cultures, the minimal cell’s bare-bones nature makes it fragile. For example, while E. coli can be handled with large orifice pipette tips, mycoplasma cannot. Furthermore, the JCVI minimal cell can only grow in SP4 media for mycoplasma. Other media such as Luria-Bertani (LB) media, Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB), or Brain heart infusion (BHI) media cannot sustain minimal cell growth.
This is an image of Luria-Bertani (LB) media without the addition of minimal cells as a control.
This is an image of Luria-Bertani (LB) media with minimal cells as the experimental group. The experimental tube and control test tubes look identical: no growth in either tube.
This is an image of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) without the addition of minimal cells as a control.
This is an image of Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) with minimal cells as the experimental group. The experimental tube and control test tubes look identical: no growth in either tube.
This is an image of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) media without the addition of minimal cells as a control.
This is an image of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) media with minimal cells as the experimental group. The experimental tube and control test tubes look identical: no growth in either tube.
Of the many chemicals that are involved in the development of MACS, ethidium bromide is one chemical that is frequently used. Ethidium bromide is a highly toxic mutagen which has exposure routes of inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption. The team learned proper handling procedures and emergency protocols in the event of a chemical spill or exposure. The use of ethidium bromide was limited to taped off and labeled sections of laboratory space. Further, the team used extensive personal protective equipment to minimize risk of exposure.
When working with organic solvents (such as chloroform, methanol, and acetonitrile for the extraction of metabolites from the minimal cell), all laboratory work is conducted in the fume hood while wearing lab goggles and sufficient PPE. When handling corrosives (such as pyridine for derivatization), all laboratory work must be conducted in the fume hood while wearing lab goggles and sufficient PPE.