SAFETY

Ensuring safety is a fundamental aspect of our iGEM project, which involves working with Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and E. coli as our model organisms. Our team prioritizes rigorous laboratory safety and personal protection measures to address these risks effectively. Our approach to safety involves a comprehensive risk assessment and the implementation of robust protocols to safeguard our team members, the university community, and the broader environment. We maintain strict laboratory practices to prevent any accidental release or contamination, and we continuously evaluate and manage potential hazards throughout the experimental process. By focusing on these safety measures, we aim to conduct our research responsibly while minimizing any possible risks associated with our work. This page provides detailed insights into the specific safety procedures and precautions we have established to ensure a safe and secure research environment for our iGEM project.

iGEM’s safety rules offer essential guidance to ensure our project adheres to high safety standards. Our research involves organisms classified under the white list, specifically C. elegans and E. coli DH5α and BL21, which is used to feed the C. elegans. And the phages we obtain are all from the soil or the lake, which are not harmful to the environment. Additionally, our project does not involve any of human experimentation, animal use, antimicrobial resistance, gene drive, or coronavirus. We also limit our research to restricted environment samples, ensuring that our work is conducted within a controlled and safe framework.

We adhere to strict laboratory safety guidelines for waste disposal to protect the environment and ensure safe handling of potentially hazardous materials. All waste is carefully sorted and placed into designated containers for specific types of waste. Waste generated from our experiments is centralized in a specific area of the lab and managed by trained professionals. The culture medium, containing bacteria and C. elegans, is directly transferred to high-temperature sterilization equipment to eliminate any biological hazards. Additionally, it is strictly prohibited to remove any waste from the laboratory to prevent contamination and maintain a controlled environment.

All personnel entering the laboratory for experiments undergo thorough training in laboratory safety guidelines. This training ensures that each team member is well-versed in safe laboratory practices, emergency procedures, and the proper use of personal protective equipment. By completing this training, our team members are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to maintain a safe working environment and adhere to established safety protocols throughout their research activities.

All project personnel adhere strictly to the Biosafety Law of the People's Republic of China, implemented in 2021, ensuring compliance with national safety standards. Phages are all obtained from the natural environment such as the soil and the lake. C. elegans is classified as a non-hazardous, non-infectious, non-pathogenic, and non-parasitic organism. The primary biosafety concern for our project is the potential leakage of modified C. elegans into an open environment. To avoid bioleakage, in lab environment, we employ methods such as injecting a small amount of alcohol or using UV light to inactivate C. elegans, further enhancing safety and preventing accidental release. Besides, when we face the real situation, we apply a new filter to avoid the leakage, the details are shown in our hardware parts.

All environmental samples (including soil and water samples collected on campus) were disinfected with 75% ethanol on the container surfaces before being opened. The entire sample processing was carried out in a biosafety cabinet at the second level, minimizing the risk of aerosol generation. For environmental samples that may contain unknown microorganisms, we treat them as potential biohazard materials and adopt the same protective standards as those for handling pathogenic microorganisms.

All operations involving live bacteria, such as bacterial culture, phage amplification, and purification, are carried out in a biosafety cabinet of level 2. We strictly follow the aseptic operation procedures: using disposable sterile inoculation loops, subjecting the spreader rods to high-temperature sterilization, avoiding bubble formation during pipetting operations, and promptly changing gloves between different sample treatments. These measures not only prevent environmental microorganisms from contaminating the experiment but also ensure the safety of the operators.

During any operation that may involve contact with biological materials, the laboratory personnel are required to wear laboratory coats, disposable nitrile gloves, and protective glasses. When handling liquid samples, a surgical mask is additionally worn. During operations that may generate aerosols, such as high-speed centrifugation, a N95 mask is worn. Hands should be washed immediately after the experiment, and the laboratory coats must not be worn outside the experimental area.

All waste materials that come into contact with biological materials are classified and collected according to regulations: solid waste (such as pipettes, centrifuge tubes, plates, etc.) is placed in high-pressure sterilization bags; liquid waste (such as bacterial solutions, phage lysis solutions) is collected in sealed containers with an effective chlorine concentration of 1%. All biological waste must undergo 121°C high-pressure steam sterilization for 30 minutes before being removed from the laboratory area for subsequent processing.

All personnel involved in the experiment have completed the laboratory biosafety training and passed the assessment. The laboratory is equipped with complete emergency handling equipment (including eyewash stations, emergency shower devices, and biological spillage treatment kits). We have formulated detailed accident handling procedures to ensure that any biological safety incidents can be dealt with promptly and effectively.