meow-nage risks like a pro
In our project, we designed a vaccine to prevent the spread of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts for cats. This included both a modeling portion as well as a proof of concept in a biosafety level 1 lab. In the proof of concept, we used E. coli to grow bacteriophages with the epitope of the Toxoplasma gondii antigens attached. We used the K-12 strain of E. coli(#2738) and M-13 bacteriophages specifically. At RBHS iGEM, the safety of our team members is our greatest priority, and we strive to promote proper conduct in the lab. Prior to any physical lab work, certification obtained via extensive online training and in-person orientation was required for all team members.
The following protocol was followed at the lab at all time:
For the wet lab portion of our project, we worked in the Rohwer Lab at SDSU. We filled out volunteer forms in order to work in the lab and received lab safety training, which covered proper sanitization, how to handle emergency situations, and more. We were supervised by Dr. Rohwer or a few graduate students, including Nelson Vyada and Vanessa Salcido at all times. We took a tour of the lab to ensure that it had all of the necessary safety equipment, such as safety showers, eye wash stations, and fire extinguishers.
Because we worked only with the epitopes of the Toxoplasma gondii antigens rather than the actual parasite, our lab was biosafety level 1. Working with both the bacteriophages and E. coli was also considered biosafety level 1.
Bacteriophages and E. coli generally have very low risk to humans. The M-13 phage in particular can only infect bacteria and usually does not pose a threat to human health. The K-12 strain of E. coli is normally unable to infect humans as well. However, our team took precautions by wearing gloves and lab coats while handling the phages and bacteria. We also disposed of the phages and E. coli properly to ensure that they could not contaminate the environment, although this possibility is low.
We are planning to implement our findings in the development of an orally administered vaccine for cats. In place of E. coli, we will use lactococcus bacteria, which is involved in the fermentation of dairy products and have not been found to be harmful to cats when consumed. Lactococcus bacteria can be found in probiotic supplements for cats and can even benefit their health. M-13 bacteriophages are also considered safe for consumption.