Team:DTU-Denmark/Safety

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Revision as of 18:56, 2 September 2011

In our project we focus on using sRNAs in order to regulate expression of other genes. Our model is based on natural sRNAs from E. coli K-12, a non-pathogenic strain of E. coli. The strains we are using (W3110, DH5alpha and NM522) do not possess any of the known virulence factors of pathogenic derivatives of E. coli such as LEE or stx [1]. sRNA have not been implicated in virulence of E. coli until now and have only been been suggested to participate in the regulation of virulence factors for other pathogenic gram negative species such as Salmonella. Our model sRNA regulates uptake of a complex sugar and there is no mention in the literature of any link between this system and virulence, furthermore, bioinformatic data-mining on available DNA databases do not seem to suggest that this system could regulate any know virulence system from pathogenic bacteria. In order to prevent release of genetically modified organism to the nature, all the liquid waste containing GMO was sterilized before throwing away and all solid materials containing GMO were sent to incineration.

In terms of chemical safety we used only one potentially dangerous substance. That was ethidium bromide, which is a known carcinogen. For safety reason the main stock of ethidium bromide powder was kept locked and could be accessed only by highly trained laboratory technicians. The stock of ethidium bromide that we had access to was diluted to the level at which only chronic exposure pose a threat to health. This was however prevented by using gloves and following the protocol about handling this compound.

There is a set of chemical and biological safety rules that everyone employed or conducting a project at “Center for Systems Microbiology, DTU” has to follow. Before we entered the lab during summer we had to read this document [2] and participated in a three-day workshop. Then we were trained how to conduct experiments and behave in the lab in accordance to all safety requirements. We presented our project idea to one of the biosafety inspectors that works in the Center and discussed possible threats that might arise when using genetically modified E. coli strains. We concluded that as long as we follow standard safety protocols according to which research at the Department of Systems Biology is done, our project poses no danger. Rules that we were following during the scope of the project are based on Danish legislation [3] that was created in accordance to European Union directives regarding genetically modified organisms.

1. D. Law, Journal of applied microbiology. 88, 729-45 (May 2000)

2. Safety rules for Center for Systems Microbiology - 2011, Technical University of Denmark

3. Bekendtgorelse om genteknologi og arbejdsmiljo - http://arbejdstilsynet.dk/da/regler/bekendtgorelser/g/sam-genteknologi-og-arbejdsmiljo-910.aspx

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-Modern biology uses variety of molecular techniques that allow making changes in living organisms. Some researchers aim at improving certain species to achieve better growth or a higher yield of a particular compound. Other use molecular biology to investigate and understand how organisms function at the molecular level. However, modifying living organisms raises an issue of biosafety as these can become dangerous  to researchers, society or environment.
+In our project we focus on using sRNAs in order to regulate expression of other genes. Our model is based on natural sRNAs from E. coli K-12, a non-pathogenic strain of E. coli. The strains we are using (W3110, DH5alpha and NM522) do not possess any of the known virulence factors of pathogenic derivatives of E. coli such as LEE or stx [1]. sRNA have not been implicated in virulence of E. coli until now and have only been been suggested to participate in the regulation of virulence factors for other pathogenic gram negative species such as Salmonella. Our model sRNA regulates uptake of a complex sugar and there is no mention in the literature of any link between this system and virulence, furthermore, bioinformatic data-mining on available DNA databases do not seem to suggest that this system could regulate any know virulence system from pathogenic bacteria. In order to prevent release of genetically modified organism to the nature, all the liquid waste containing GMO was sterilized before throwing away and all solid materials containing GMO were sent to incineration.
-In order to assess potential perils of our project we answered following questions:
+In terms of chemical safety we used only one potentially dangerous substance. That was ethidium bromide, which is a known carcinogen. For safety reason the main stock of ethidium bromide powder was kept locked and could be accessed only by highly trained laboratory technicians. The stock of ethidium bromide that we had access to was diluted to the level at which only chronic exposure pose a threat to health. This was however prevented by using gloves and following the protocol about handling this compound.
-'''Would any of your project ideas raise safety issues in terms of research, public or environmental safety?'''
+There is a set of chemical and biological safety rules that everyone employed or conducting a project at “Center for Systems Microbiology, DTU” has to follow. Before we entered the lab during summer we had to read this document [2] and participated in a three-day workshop. Then we were trained how to conduct experiments and behave in the lab in accordance to all safety requirements. We presented our project idea to one of the biosafety inspectors that works in the Center and discussed possible threats that might arise when using genetically modified E. coli strains. We concluded that as long as we follow standard safety protocols according to which research at the Department of Systems Biology is done, our project poses no danger. Rules that we were following during the scope of the project are based on Danish legislation [3] that was created in accordance to European Union directives regarding genetically modified organisms.
-No, our project doesn’t directly raise concern about biosafety in any of these categories. The regulatory system we are developing is designed to provide an extra level of control to any gene that someone might want to express. The tight regulation is released only if a certain external inducer becomes present. This requires a full control of the inducer and the medium that we are growing our cells in is devoid of it prior to induction. Setup like this can be easily achieved for laboratory research and industrial production when all parameters of the system are usually well controlled. This is not true however for natural environment as it might be difficult to foresee all probable sources of inducer.
-'''Do any of the new BioBrick parts (or devices) that you made this year raise any safety issues?'''
-No, BioBricks which we created don’t raise any safety issues.
-'''Is there a local biosafety group, committee, or review board at your institution?'''
+. D. Law, Journal of applied microbiology. 88, 729-45 (May 2000)
-We presented our project idea to one of the biosafety inspectors that works at our university and discussed possible threats that might arise when using genetically modified organisms. We concluded that as long as we follow standard safety protocols according to which research at the Department of Systems Biology is done, our project poses no danger.
+. Safety rules for Center for Systems Microbiology - 2011, Technical University of Denmark
-'''Do you have any other ideas how to deal with safety issues that could be useful for future iGEM competitions? How could parts, devices and systems be made even safer through biosafety engineering?'''
+. Bekendtgorelse om genteknologi og arbejdsmiljo - http://arbejdstilsynet.dk/da/regler/bekendtgorelser/g/sam-genteknologi-og-arbejdsmiljo-910.aspx
-We believe that future iGEM teams would be more challenged to look into biosafety issues if a new track award category was created,  i.e. Best Safety project. Maybe some of the teams would consider creating BioBricks which trigger cell suicide once the organism escapes from the lab. Or designing an universal on/off device for controlling expression of any chosen gene.