Introduction

In the laboratory, safety is of paramount importance and is the top consideration. Our laboratory is a P1 level laboratory, which has the lowest biosafety level and is primarily used for general research. The facilities and equipment in our laboratory are relatively simple, only including basic equipment such as a biosafety cabinet, pipettes, and other harmless tools. We are required to wear basic personal protective equipment during operations, such as lab coats, masks, and gloves.

Background

For laboratory practice, we recognize the significance of personal safety, so we place great emphasis on the training of team members. Initially, we have a meeting about the basic rules that we need to follow, for instance, we are not allowed to eat in the laboratory. Furthermore, we provide an introduction to our lab and learn the operating procedures of the equipment in the lab, and we need to take notes for special ones.

Our Approach

Our specific safety measures include:

• Changing into a clean lab coat to avoid bringing external contaminants into the lab.
• Thoroughly washing hands before entering the lab, after contact with contaminants, and before leaving the lab to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
• Cleaning the lab bench immediately after completing the experiment to maintain a tidy environment.
• Familiarizing ourselves with the emergency evacuation routes of the lab to ensure a quick exit in case of danger.
• Strictly prohibiting the bringing of food and drinks into the lab to avoid cross-contamination of food and drinks with experimental materials.
• Operating in accordance with the experimental guidelines to ensure accuracy and safety.
• Becoming familiar with the correct use of various laboratory equipment to avoid injuries caused by misuse.
• Carefully reading labels, storing chemicals appropriately, and using fume hoods when working with volatile or hazardous substances to prevent inhalation or contact with skin and eyes.
• Avoiding close contact with chemicals: Never smell, taste, or touch any chemicals and reagents up close to prevent poisoning or injury.
• Being cautious of fire and electric shock: Always remain vigilant about fire hazards and the risk of electric shock.
• Labeling the cells collected in our experiments for identification and storing them in the refrigerator.
• Working under the supervision of at least one instructor during the experiment to ensure compliance with the laboratory rules.
• Inactivating and cooling other biological samples such as LB solution before discarding them.
• Collecting waste liquid uniformly in the waste tank, conducting some harmless treatment, and then rinsing it eventually into the laboratory hand-washing sink.
• Collecting proteins and residual yeast and discarding them by professional staff.
• Discharging hydrogen or methane after environmentally friendly treatment.

Conclusion

The cells utilized in the current experiments pose minimal hazards. The two types of vessel cells used are E-coli DH5α and Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741. E-coli DH5α, a common laboratory strain of E. coli, is a scientifically proven strain of relative safety, with negligible ability to cause a pathogenic infection and low survival rates in host tissues. When used with caution, there is virtually no possibility of infection. Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741, also a common laboratory strain of bacteria, is non-pathogenic. Given that the general species of yeast is regularly and commercially used in edible products, even in extreme circumstances (such as accidental consumption), there is no danger to the operator.

In addition, we also regularly inspect and maintain the laboratory equipment to ensure their normal operation and safety. We strictly follow the relevant regulations and procedures for the handling and storage of chemicals to prevent accidents. Moreover, we have established an emergency response plan to deal with unexpected situations promptly and effectively.