Difference between revisions of "Team:Berlin diagnostX/Safety"

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<div class="abstand_navbar headimage" id="background_description_head"> <h1 class="text-center head_us head-light">Safety</h1> </div>
  
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<h1> Safety </h1>
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<p>Please visit <a href="https://2017.igem.org/Safety">the main Safety page</a> to find this year's safety requirements & deadlines, and to learn about safe & responsible research in iGEM.</p>
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<p>On this page of your wiki, you should write about how you are addressing any safety issues in your project. The wiki is a place where you can <strong>go beyond the questions on the safety forms</strong>, and write about whatever safety topics are most interesting in your project. (You do not need to copy your safety forms onto this wiki page.)</p>
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            <h3 class="text-center igem_blue mt-4">Safe Project Design</h3>
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            <p class="text-justify">The target of our diagnostic test, the tapeworm Taenia solium is in itself a pathogenic organism to humans. However, in our project no infectious tapeworm samples were used. We designed our sensors based on published transcriptome data (Tsm) or previously known antigens (Tso_31). <br> <br>
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Our day-to-day laboratory work involved working with synthetic nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) that are not associated with disease in humans – these sequences were containing only fragments of nucleic acid with no risk of infection or unintended/harmful gene expression. The use of standardized protocols for DNA preparation, PCR or cell-free expression furthermore ensured that ingestion, inoculation or contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin was avoided. </p>
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            <p class="text-justify">To reduce any further risks, we tried to refrain from using potentially toxic chemicals whenever there were alternatives. As an example, we decided against using ethidium bromide dye for argarose gels. Instead, RotiSafe, a non-toxic alternative dye for nucleic acids in agarose gels was used. Whenever it was not possible to replace a potentially harmful chemical, we conducted handling of these substances underneath a fume hood. <br> <br>
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In the collaboration with our Indian partners, we ensured that an understanding on safety standards was reached. When our partners sent tapeworm material obtained through screening, only isolated RNA fragments (non-infectious, non-pathogenic) were transported with a certified courier company.</p>
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            <h3 class="text-center igem_blue mt-4">Safe Lab Work</h3>
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            <p class="text-justify">TFor our project we used a Biosafety Level 1 (BSL1) Laboratory. This represents a basic level of containment with fume hoods and designated work places for bacterial transformations in order to reduce contamination risks. <br> <br> Before starting any wet lab work, all team members had to get an instruction on general lab safety held by PI Prof. Dr. med. Markus Schülke. This instruction covered all necessary information concerning wet lab safety, emergency actions and building security. </p>
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            <p class="text-left">We adapted basic safety habits such as: </p>
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                <li>Washing hands upon entering and prior to leaving the laboratory</li>
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                <li>Wearing personal protection, such as nitrile gloves and laboratory coat.</li>
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                <li>Tieing back hair and wearing long trousers.</li>
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                <li>Drinking and eating was not allowed at any time inside the laboratory</li>
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        <h3 class="text-center igem_blue mt-4">Safe Lab Work</h3>
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        <p class="text-justify">In collaboration with our Indian partners, we ensured that an understanding on safety standards was reached. When our partners sent tapeworm material obtained through screening, only isolated RNA fragments (non-infectious, non-pathogenic) were transported with a certified courier company.</p>
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<h5>Safe Project Design</h5>
 
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<p>Does your project include any safety features? Have you made certain decisions about the design to reduce risks? Write about them here! For example:</p>
 
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<li>Choosing a non-pathogenic chassis</li>
 
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<li>Choosing parts that will not harm humans / animals / plants</li>
 
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<li>Substituting safer materials for dangerous materials in a proof-of-concept experiment</li>
 
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<li>Including an "induced lethality" or "kill-switch" device</li>
 
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<h5>Safe Lab Work</h5>
 
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<p>What safety procedures do you use every day in the lab? Did you perform any unusual experiments, or face any unusual safety issues? Write about them here!</p>
 
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<h5>Safe Shipment</h5>
 
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<p>Did you face any safety problems in sending your DNA parts to the Registry? How did you solve those problems?</p>
 
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Revision as of 00:01, 1 November 2017

Safety

Safe Project Design

The target of our diagnostic test, the tapeworm Taenia solium is in itself a pathogenic organism to humans. However, in our project no infectious tapeworm samples were used. We designed our sensors based on published transcriptome data (Tsm) or previously known antigens (Tso_31).

Our day-to-day laboratory work involved working with synthetic nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) that are not associated with disease in humans – these sequences were containing only fragments of nucleic acid with no risk of infection or unintended/harmful gene expression. The use of standardized protocols for DNA preparation, PCR or cell-free expression furthermore ensured that ingestion, inoculation or contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin was avoided.

To reduce any further risks, we tried to refrain from using potentially toxic chemicals whenever there were alternatives. As an example, we decided against using ethidium bromide dye for argarose gels. Instead, RotiSafe, a non-toxic alternative dye for nucleic acids in agarose gels was used. Whenever it was not possible to replace a potentially harmful chemical, we conducted handling of these substances underneath a fume hood.

In the collaboration with our Indian partners, we ensured that an understanding on safety standards was reached. When our partners sent tapeworm material obtained through screening, only isolated RNA fragments (non-infectious, non-pathogenic) were transported with a certified courier company.

Safe Lab Work

TFor our project we used a Biosafety Level 1 (BSL1) Laboratory. This represents a basic level of containment with fume hoods and designated work places for bacterial transformations in order to reduce contamination risks.

Before starting any wet lab work, all team members had to get an instruction on general lab safety held by PI Prof. Dr. med. Markus Schülke. This instruction covered all necessary information concerning wet lab safety, emergency actions and building security.

We adapted basic safety habits such as:

  • Washing hands upon entering and prior to leaving the laboratory
  • Wearing personal protection, such as nitrile gloves and laboratory coat.
  • Tieing back hair and wearing long trousers.
  • Drinking and eating was not allowed at any time inside the laboratory

Safe Lab Work

In collaboration with our Indian partners, we ensured that an understanding on safety standards was reached. When our partners sent tapeworm material obtained through screening, only isolated RNA fragments (non-infectious, non-pathogenic) were transported with a certified courier company.