SAFETY
OVERVIEW
Whether it’s sports, flying planes, or conducting lab experiments, safety is always the prerequisite—especially in
the lab.Just like in sports or aviation, safety is the top priority in the lab.This is not only for our health and
safety, but also for environmental protection—that is one of our core missions.
LABORATORY SAFETY GUIDELINES
At East China University of Science and Technology, we conducted our experiments in a BSL-1 laboratory, equipped
with all the standard equipment commonly found in such settings: laminar flow hoods, centrifuges, PCR machines,
gel electrophoresis apparatus, UV transilluminators, and micropipettes. We also had essential safety equipment
such as lab coats, eyewash stations, fire extinguishers, and biohazard waste containers. All personnel entering
the lab area were required to wear gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment. Furthermore, our
instructor briefed everyone on lab safety rules on the first day of wet lab work.
PROJECT SAFETY
PlasmoProtectors, implemented in our system,focuses on plant immune preparation and will ultimately be
merchandized and applied to farmland. The aim is to reduce the risk of crop infections caused by bacteria and
thereby improve agricultural yield. Therefore, ensuring the safety of developing and deploying our product
plays a vital role in both human health and environmental health.
ORGANISM AND PARTS
In the experiment, we chose Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) as the vector for protein and
RNA synthesis. In tomato infection, we selected Ralstonia solanacearum,which is often found in solanaceous crops.
Ralstonia solanacearum is a BSL-2 plant pathogen that poses agricultural risks but is not harmful to humans. In
iGEM, strains and live cultures will be handled with strict containment restricted inside the lab.
We checked the iGEM whitelist and ABSA Risk Group Database, and confirmed that the bacteria we used, E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Ralstonia solanacearum, are listed in the iGEMwhitelist.
We checked the iGEM whitelist and ABSA Risk Group Database, and confirmed that the bacteria we used, E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Ralstonia solanacearum, are listed in the iGEMwhitelist.
PROSPECT
Although the current use of E. coli complies with hygiene standards and regulatory requirements, its name
alone often causes misconception among consumers. To improve public perception and product acceptance, we plan
to transition to using Bacillus subtilis, a widely recognized and trusted biological control agent that aligns
with both safety standards and market expectations.
The Bacterium Bacillus subtilis taken with a Tecnai T-12 TEM. Taken by Allon Weiner, The Weizmann Institute of
Science, Rehovot, Israel. 2006.
PRODUCT SAFETY
To help agricultural professionals effectively use our product while ensuring proper pesticide dosage control, we
developed ErucaBead—a bead-based delivery system encapsulating Erucamide purified from E. coli. In addition to its
core formulation, we prioritized safety in external packaging to enhance usability and minimize risks.
ErucaBead features an outer membrane made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, a water-soluble polymer widely used due to its biocompatibility, stability, and non-toxicity. Extensive biological tests have proven this material is safe for the human body and has been used in a variety of products, including contact lenses and cartilage replacements. It naturally degrades into harmless byproducts like carbon dioxide and water without leaving any harmful residues. Uniquely, PVA is the only synthetic polymer that can serve as a carbon source for certain beneficial bacteria. Additionally, when dissolved, PVA improves soil cohesion, aeration, and water retention—these are all beneficial for plant growth.
We used sodium alginate membrane to be a carrier of bacterial fluid, which has a good biocompatibility. We also chose glycerol as a wrapping agent to protect the beads---prevent sodium alginate membrane from burst during transportation. It’s also a commonly used polar solvent for preserving biological samples and can be biodegraded by soil microbial communities.
ErucaBead features an outer membrane made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, a water-soluble polymer widely used due to its biocompatibility, stability, and non-toxicity. Extensive biological tests have proven this material is safe for the human body and has been used in a variety of products, including contact lenses and cartilage replacements. It naturally degrades into harmless byproducts like carbon dioxide and water without leaving any harmful residues. Uniquely, PVA is the only synthetic polymer that can serve as a carbon source for certain beneficial bacteria. Additionally, when dissolved, PVA improves soil cohesion, aeration, and water retention—these are all beneficial for plant growth.
We used sodium alginate membrane to be a carrier of bacterial fluid, which has a good biocompatibility. We also chose glycerol as a wrapping agent to protect the beads---prevent sodium alginate membrane from burst during transportation. It’s also a commonly used polar solvent for preserving biological samples and can be biodegraded by soil microbial communities.
COMPANY INTERVIEW
In the experiment, we chose Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) as the vector for protein and RNA synthesis. In tomato
infection, we selected Ralstonia solanacearum,which is often found in solanaceous crops. Ralstonia solanacearum is
a BSL-2 plant pathogen that poses agricultural risks but is not harmful to humans. In iGEM, strains and live
cultures will be handled with strict containment restricted inside the lab.
We checked the iGEM whitelist and ABSA Risk Group Database, and confirmed that the bacteria we used, E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Ralstonia solanacearum, are listed in the iGEMwhitelist.
We checked the iGEM whitelist and ABSA Risk Group Database, and confirmed that the bacteria we used, E. coli BL21 (DE3) and Ralstonia solanacearum, are listed in the iGEMwhitelist.
REFERENCE
World Health Organization. Laboratory Biosafety Manual. 4th ed., WHO, 2020.
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240011311
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. 6th ed., revised June 2020. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Cao, C., Zhao, L., & Li, G. (2024, April 22). Using polyvinyl alcohol as polymeric adhesive to enhance the water stability of soil and its performance. arXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.13926
Swift, G., et al. “Biodegradation of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Based Materials.” Progress in Polymer Science, Pergamon, 22 Apr. 2003, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0079670002001491.
Baker, Maribel I., et al. "A Review of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Its Uses in Cartilage and Orthopedic Applications." Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, vol. 100B, no. 6, 2012, pp. 1451–1457. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32694.
张莉琼, et al. "聚乙烯醇包装薄膜的制备及其抗菌性能研究." 印刷与数字媒体技术研究, no. 05, 2024, pp. 156–163. https://doi.org/10.19370/j.cnki.cn10-1886/ts.2024.05.018.
张静, 林华庆, 马秋燕, 鲁泊宏, 蒋鸿, 彭炳新. "海藻酸钠及其衍生物在生物医药中的应用进展." 中国药房, vol. 30, no. 23, 2019, pp. 3307–3312. DOI:10.6039/j.issn.1001-0408.2019.23.25.
iGEM White List. Responsibility in iGEM, iGEM Foundation, 2025, https://responsibility.igem.org/guidance/white-list
American Biological Safety Association. Risk Groups. ABSA, 2025, my.absa.org/tiki-index.php?page=Riskgroups.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. 6th ed., revised June 2020. CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Cao, C., Zhao, L., & Li, G. (2024, April 22). Using polyvinyl alcohol as polymeric adhesive to enhance the water stability of soil and its performance. arXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/2404.13926
Swift, G., et al. “Biodegradation of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Based Materials.” Progress in Polymer Science, Pergamon, 22 Apr. 2003, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0079670002001491.
Baker, Maribel I., et al. "A Review of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Its Uses in Cartilage and Orthopedic Applications." Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials, vol. 100B, no. 6, 2012, pp. 1451–1457. Wiley Online Library, https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.32694.
张莉琼, et al. "聚乙烯醇包装薄膜的制备及其抗菌性能研究." 印刷与数字媒体技术研究, no. 05, 2024, pp. 156–163. https://doi.org/10.19370/j.cnki.cn10-1886/ts.2024.05.018.
张静, 林华庆, 马秋燕, 鲁泊宏, 蒋鸿, 彭炳新. "海藻酸钠及其衍生物在生物医药中的应用进展." 中国药房, vol. 30, no. 23, 2019, pp. 3307–3312. DOI:10.6039/j.issn.1001-0408.2019.23.25.
iGEM White List. Responsibility in iGEM, iGEM Foundation, 2025, https://responsibility.igem.org/guidance/white-list
American Biological Safety Association. Risk Groups. ABSA, 2025, my.absa.org/tiki-index.php?page=Riskgroups.