Our team has taken many steps to ensure the safety of our work in the laboratory. The lab we work in is classified as a Level 2 containment area, we only have access to risk category 1 biological materials and we utilise biosafety cabinets. A few of the specific safety measures taken by our team are listed below.
Hierarchy of laboratory safety controls. Arranged from top to bottom from most effective to least effective.
Choice of strain:
We decided to use Rhodococcus opacus PD630 because it does not pose a potential risk when working with humans.
Strains - We used a non-pathogenic strain of E. coli, strain DH5α、BL21. Choosing this model organism over others reduces risk of infection or disease in lab members because it lacks the mechanism to be pathogenic.[1]
Engineering Controls:
Biosafety Cabinet - To prevent contamination of our work as well as protect lab members we used a Class II BioSafety Cabinet when working with bacterial cultures and when isolating protoplasts.
Suicide Switch:
The gene was added to the light-inducible gene cab, 1009 bp in length, and we intercepted the smallest fragment of 1-504 bp at the 5' end of the gus ( uid A) gene fusion followed by a suicide switch constructed by linking the resistance gene to the sulfur Thiostrepton peptide.[2]
Administrative Controls:
Training - All wet-lab members were provided training on the lab facilities, equipment, protocols, and safety policies by wet-lab leads and advisors. In addition to that, all wet-lab members were required to take WUST’s Biosafety and Chemical Safety courses.
Personal Protective Equipment:
Lab coats, goggles, masks, and gloves were available for members to protect themselves when working in the laboratories.
References
[1] Chart, H., Smith, H. R., La Ragione, R. M., & Woodward, M. J. (2000). An investigation into the pathogenic properties of Escherichia coli strains BLR, BL21, DH5alpha and EQ1. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 89(6), 1048–1058.
[2] Wei-Min， L.， Zhi-Xing， W.， Xin-Wu， P.， & Shi-Rong， J. （2005）.来自棉植物园的光诱导Gacab启动子的克隆和表征。中国农业生物技术学报，2（1）， 17-22.doi：10.1079/CJB200547
