A Comprehensive Framework for Secure Research
Welcome to our Safety page! On this page, we will share our laboratory safety training efforts to ensure experiment safety. In our project, safety is not an afterthought but a foundational principle integrated into every stage of our work. We are committed to ensuring the well-being of our team, the public, and the environment. Below, we detail the multi-layered safety framework we have established, which addresses both biological and chemical hazards through rigorous training, engineered controls, and standardized procedures. We hope to inspire and assist iGEM community in creating a safer laboratory environment.
Before any experiment began, our team underwent comprehensive safety training organized by Sichuan University. This training covered critical areas such as fire safety, hazardous chemical handling, biosafety, equipment operation, and emergency response procedures. We cultivated a strong safety culture where team members constantly remind each other to stay vigilant. This proactive mindset is our first and most important line of defense against accidents.
We have implemented a robust "Triple Protection System" to manage risks effectively, inspired by industrial safety models.
• Governance: We strictly adhere to national regulations and our institution's biosafety guidelines. Our project has been reviewed in consultation with the safety officers from the College of Biomass Science and Engineering.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): We developed and strictly follow detailed SOPs for all experiments, especially those involving our engineered strains and hazardous chemicals.
• Documentation: All experimental procedures, particularly those involving genetic modification and chemical use, are meticulously recorded for accountability and traceability.
• Containment Level: All work with our engineered strains is conducted under Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) conditions.
• Chemical Fume Hoods: All procedures involving volatile and hazardous chemicals (Dansyl chloride, acetone, and methanol) are performed inside a certified chemical fume hood, providing a physical barrier against inhalation and exposure.
• Controlled Fermentation: We use laboratory-scale bioreactors and flasks as closed-system vessels to prevent the accidental release of microorganisms.
• Mandatory PPE: All team members must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including lab coats, disposable gloves, and safety goggles, at all times in the lab.
• Good Hygiene: We enforce strict hygiene protocols, including washing hands after removing gloves and before leaving the laboratory.
Our safety measures are tailored to the specific risks identified in our project.
• Risk Assessment: Our primary chassis is a Risk Group 1 (RG1) organism, which is non-pathogenic and poses minimal risk to healthy humans and the environment. A key consideration was its potential, though low, for sporulation under stress.
• Mitigation Strategy:
◦ Spore Prevention in Culture: We actively prevent sporulation by maintaining cultures in log-phase growth using rich media (YPD) and ensuring adequate glucose and nitrogen sources, thereby avoiding the starvation signals that trigger sporulation.
◦ Spore Containment: Should any sporulation occur, our stringent physical containment measures (BSL-1 cabinets, closed systems) and waste decontamination protocols (autoclaving, 10% bleach treatment) ensure effective containment and inactivation.
• Risk Assessment: We also utilize Bacillus licheniformis DSM 13, which is classified as Risk Group 1 according to the German Technical Rules for Biological Agents (TRBA). This soil-dwelling bacterium is generally considered safe for laboratory work. However, as a spore-forming bacterium, it requires specific containment measures to prevent environmental persistence and potential contamination.
• Mitigation Strategy:
◦ Enhanced Spore Containment: All handling of B. licheniformis is conducted in BSL-1 biosafety cabinets to contain any airborne spores. Work surfaces are decontaminated with sporicidal agents (e.g., 10% bleach).
◦ Strict Waste Treatment: All cultures and materials exposed to B. licheniformis are inactivated by autoclaving to ensure the complete destruction of highly resilient spores before disposal.
◦ Strain Characteristic Monitoring: We are aware that under specific conditions, this strain could potentially produce secondary metabolites. We monitor our cultivation conditions closely to minimize any unforeseen risks.
• Risk Assessment: We identified specific hazards for the chemicals used in our analytical workflows:
◦ Dansyl Chloride: A potential irritant and suspected carcinogen.
◦ Acetone: Highly flammable and an irritant.
◦ Methanol: Toxic and flammable, with risks upon ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.
• Mitigation Strategy:
◦ All chemical work is confined to a certified chemical fume hood.
◦ Flammable solvents are stored in dedicated safety cabinets away from ignition sources.
◦ We strictly follow Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for handling and disposal. All chemical waste is segregated and disposed of according to institutional protocols.
We follow a strict waste segregation and decontamination protocol to prevent environmental release.
• Biological Waste: All liquid and solid waste containing genetically modified organisms or spore-forming bacteria (e.g., B. licheniformis) is inactivated by autoclaving before disposal. This is critical for ensuring the destruction of all viable cells and spores.
• Chemical Waste: Organic solvents and chemical derivatives are collected in designated containers and handled by our institution's specialized waste management system.
• Sharps: Contaminated sharps are disposed of in puncture-resistant sharps containers.
Through a combination of comprehensive training, a multi-layered defense system, and project-specific risk mitigation for both our microbial chassis and hazardous chemicals, we have built a robust safety framework. This proactive and conscientious approach allows us to pursue our innovative research with confidence, ensuring that our work remains safe and responsible for everyone involved.