Team:HKUST/Safety
Safety
At HKUST the safety of our lab personnel is of utmost importance. We have adhered to the following protocols for carrying out wet lab work. The safety features and precautions taken were also described.
Lab Safety
At HKUST the safety of our lab personnel is of utmost importance. We have adhered to the following protocols for carrying out wet lab work. The safety features and precautions taken were also described.
All experiments were carried out under the supervision of our lab supervisor Dr. Jessica Tang. We were instructed to always wear disposable nitrile gloves, closed-toe shoes with long pants leaving no exposed skin, and use eye protection during gel visualization under blue light. Before leaving the lab, we made sure to thoroughly wash our hands with hand soap for at least 20 seconds.
In accordance with government regulations to reduce the risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, no more than 4 people could enter the lab at any given time, and face-masks were worn at all times.
Biohazardous waste was collected in a designated container, then collected by the HSEO for autoclaving before proper disposal according to local regulations.
Lab Safety Features
Our lab is equipped with:
- -Biosafety cabinet with HEPA filter
- -First Aid Kit
- -Fire extinguisher
- -Flame-retardant benches
- -Spill kits
Safety showers and eye-washers are situated outside the lab, and are accessible within 10 seconds.
Lab Training
Laboratory safety at HKUST is regulated by the Health, Safety, and Environment Office (HSEO). More information about the HSEO can be found here.
All team members who wish to conduct experiments must complete the safety training organized by the Health, Safety, and Environment Office (HSEO) of HKUST by completing a theoretical test regarding the safety concerns and appropriate precautions, after self-learning using the materials provided on HSEO's website.
3 courses were required in total:
- -Biological Safety
- -Chemical Safety I - Chemical Safety for Laboratory Users
- -Chemical Safety II - Hazardous Waste Management
In addition to the theoretical safety training provided by the HSEO, we are also required to undergo a 2-day lab training session to familiarize ourselves with the general protocols, equipments in the lab, experimental techniques, and safety precautions. We were also briefed on the location of the safety shower and eye-washer, as well as emergency escape routes.
The experimental protocols used throughout the lab training can be found here.
General E. coli Safety
The E. coli strain we use for cloning and expression is DH5α. It is not known to be pathogenic, and is classified as biosafety risk group 1.
Project-specific E. coli Safety
The injectisome system in Synthetic Injector E. coli (SIEC) we planned to use for implementing the novel purification method next phase originates from Enteropathogenic Escherichia E. coli (EPEC). EPEC can cause diarrhea in humans when adhered to intestinal tissue and successfully injects effector proteins via its type 3 secretion system (T3SS). SIEC possess the following characteristics that fulfill the safety requirements:
- -Non-pathogenic chassis E. coli K-12
- -Inducible assembly of T3SS filamentous injectisome
- -Removed effector genes and its related regulators
As the effector proteins are removed, the strain is deemed non-pathogenic and thus belongs to biosafety risk group 1. By choosing this particular bacterial strain, we hope to minimize the potential risk when working with it next phase.