Team:Qdai/Safety
Safety
Project Design
The E.coli JM109 strain that we are using is derived from the E.coli K-12 strain, which is in the Risk Group (RG1). Since the RG1 strain is not associated with disease in healthy adults and has no active virulence factors, we assure that it poses minimal health risk if taken out of the laboratory.
This bacterium is designed to detect carbon monoxide. We plan to introduce the carbon monoxide sensor protein CooA and the photoprotein luciferase into E. coli. The expression of these genes is not expected to cause any harm to humans. Research activities have been carried out using standard experimental protocols.
Training
Fig. 1 “Genetic Recombination Experiment Education and Training”
Lab Work
Our University Rules We adhere to biosafety and biosecurity rules and standard operating procedures provided by our university, which are compliant with national biosafety and biosecurity laws and regulations. Here we provide a translation of our university’s policy for genetic recombination and the link to its webpage (Japanese).
Kyushu University’s Procedures for Genetic Recombination Experiments:
1. The principal investigator of the experiment should submit the experiment plan to the administrative staff of his/her department after preparing it.
・This will be confirmed by the Chief Safety Officer and the application will be submitted to the President.
2. If you are a member of a research team, you will be required to submit an application for approval of your experiment. The results of the review will be notified to the principal investigator through the department head.
3. Please start the experiment after receiving the approval notice.
* Genetic modification experimental facilities other than P1 level require approval by a separate committee. For more information on how to obtain approval, please refer to "Flow of Procedures for Prevention of Proliferation of Genetic Modification Experimental Facilities".
* In order to apply for approval of a genetic modification experiment, you must have attended the "Education and Training for Genetic Modification Experiment Workers".
URL: http://ura.kyushu-u.ac.jp/dna/
Our Lab Practice
・Pipette tips and Petri dishes contaminated with E.coli were sterilized in autoclave bags before disposal. When using the autoclave, care was taken to never open it until the internal temperature dropped below 80°C.
・Hand sanitization was performed frequently.
・Reagents that affect health, such as greenflies, were handled with gloves.
Safety for Our Project
Since our project involves the use of carbon monoxide, a toxic, inflammable/combustible, high-pressure gas, we must be very careful in its use. In addition, proper storage and management of carbon monoxide is required to prevent it from being misused for criminal purposes.
Proper use
We made a chemical risk assessment before using CO to consider the risks associated with its use, and considered the measurements to reduce risk. We were able to significantly reduce the risk of inhaling CO by handling it in the draft.
Proper management
Kyushu University has a chemical substance management support system, IASO, which ensures that inventory and usage rates are thoroughly monitored. In this way, carbon monoxide was separated from other chemicals and stored in a lockable cabinet.