Team:UUlm/Safety
Safety
Safety in our lab work and in handling the mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor) was a very important aspect of our project. From the very beginning, it was clear that only two team members were allowed in the lab. Therefore, we were following our Universities SARS-CoV-2 safety instructions. The two team members were given a safety instruction regarding the measurements taken in the SARS-CoV-2 situation.
The two team members also had a safety training for the lab facilities before they started working in the laboratory. This included the topics:
- Lab access and rules of conduct
- Individual responsibility
- Differences between biosafety levels
- Biosafety equipment
- Responsible handling of microorganisms
- Disinfection and sterilization
- Emergency procedures
- Transport rules
- Physical biosafety
- Personnel biosafety
- Dual-use and experiments of concern
- Data biosafety
- Chemicals, fire and electrical safety
The team members were always working with lab coats, safety goggles, masks and gloves. Especially when handling the mealworms measurements were taken to avoid dust inhalation and skin contact. An instructor was present and supervising the experiments.
Dr. Frank Bengelsdorf from the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of Ulm University is our safety guide and overviewed the whole process of handling the mealworms, i.e. he monitored the way the mealworms were stored. Additionally, we were trained by experienced instructors who are familiar with the experimental procedures and the handling of invertebrates. This includes the insect husbandry, safely killing mealworms, and gut preparation.
For more information, please view our Safety Form.
Handling of organisms:
Each experiment involving mealworms was performed in a laboratory at biosafety level 2, in order to handle the risk of the mealworms infesting the lab. In our project we used
Escherichia coli[pMTL83151], E. coli[pJIR750_ac2t2],
E. coli[pJIR750_ac3t3] and E. coli XL1 blue MRF`, as well as larvae of
T. molitor.
To ensure that environment was not exposed to possibly harmful organisms, every sample containing a genetically manipulated organism was collected in a separate waste container and autoclaved. Work with bacteria was carried out under sterile working conditions.
In order to minimize health risks when working with the mealworms, we were only handling the insects with dusk masks, gloves, and laboratory coats. In addition, for the duration of the project, the university provided us with an S2 laboratory in which the mealworms were stored and incubated. We purchased equipment suitable for the keeping of insects (containers, hygrometers, etc.) that was cleaned and disinfected before, during and after use. In this way, we could minimize the risk of an allergic reaction for our team members and all other laboratory staff.
In addition, the university and the laboratory are adequately equipped with hand washers and hand sanitizers. Every employee was informed that mealworms were in the laboratory for the duration of our project. Only one person from our team was working with the insects. This person is not aware of having any allergic reactions.
For more information, please view our Check-In form.
Ethics
As we were working with the mealworm Tenebrio molitor, we needed to submit a Check-In form. From the very beginning, we had an open communication with the iGEM Safety and Security Committee. They made us aware of many aspects of handling the mealworms and encouraged us to perform an extensive research on the risks, ethics and the appropriate measurements. Therefore, we were researching within EU guidelines and contacted Prof. Dr. Wolf at our university, who has considerable work experience with mealworms and other invertebrates. Prof. Dr. Wolf shared his experience with us and we learned how to properly handle the mealworms.
Over the course of the experiment, the mealworms were kept under appropriate living conditions.
Pupations were killed by freezing them overnight in a -20°C freezer.