[1S] UNIT 1.1: Introduction to Molecular Biology and Diagnostics Flashcards
“Field involved in the examination of the origins of diseases at the molecular level, primarily by studying nucleic acids”
Molecular Biology & Diagnostics / Diagnostic Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology and Diagnostics is also called as?
Diagnostic Molecular Biology
Studies the behavior of living cells in terms of their morphology, anatomy and physiology
Cell Biology
Techniques used in Cell Biology
Microscopy, Scanning, etc.
Importance: identifying the behavioral patterns of a cell and its morphological features in response to various metabolic, environmental and chemical exposures
Cell Biology
Deals with the understanding of the relationship between DNA, RNA and proteins
Molecular Biology
Techniques used in Molecular Biology
Gel electrophoresis, Polymerase chain reaction, cloning techniques, Sequencing, etc.
Importance: Confirmation of most morphological and metabolic conditions. It is also an important diagnostic tool
Molecular Biology
Containment principles technologies and practices implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins or their accidental release
Biosafety
Protocols and procedures that we do so that the things that we analyze will not be taken out from the laboratory grounds
Biosafety
● An agent of biological origin that can cause disease in humans
● It could be the ff:
○ Microorganisms
○ Viruses
○ Allergens or Toxins
Biological Hazard/Biohazard
Primary specimen for Molecular Biology
Blood
BIOSAFETY
Universal Precautions should be followed, that is, ….
All blood samples and other body fluids should be treated as potentially infectious for the transmission of blood borne pathogens like HIV, hepatitis, and others.
Applied to blood and body fluids containing visible blood for all patients.
Universal Precautions
Apply the principles of work practice controls and exposure controls to all patients and all patient specimens to prevent exposure of workers to potentially infectious agents and to protect patients.
Standard Precautions
Donning & Doffing Sequence
Donning:
1) Gown
2) Mask
3) Goggles
4) Gloves
Doffing:
1) Gloves
2) Goggles
3) Gown
4) Mask
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
agents are not known to cause disease
Biosafety Level 1
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
Use this BSL when working with:
• Well-characterized agents
• Agents that are of minimal hazard to lab personnel and the environment
Biosafety Level 1
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
• E . coliJM109, DH5a
• Saccharomycescerevisiae
• Bacillus subtilis
Examples of BSL-1 Agents
BIOSAFETY LEVELS: STANDARD WORK PRACTICES
• Use mechanical pipetting devices
• Wash hands frequently
• Minimize splashes and aerosols
• Decontaminate work surfaces daily
• Handle wastes properly
• Maintain insect and rodent control program
BSL-1
PPE for BSL-1
• Lab coat or apron
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Gloves as needed
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
agents are associated with human disease
BSL-2
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
Use this when working with agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment
BSL-2
BIOSAFETY LEVELS AGENTS
• Human blood or body fluids
• E . coli0157:H7
• Clostridium botulinum
• Retroviral vectors
• Human cells in cell culture
BSL-2
BIOSAFETY LEVELS FACILITY
• Adequate illumination
• Eyewash facility
• Negative air pressure
• Autoclave available
• Biological safety cabinet
• Lab must be separated from public areas
BSL-2
Are red in color, marked with biohazard symbol, leak proof & puncture resistant
Sharps Container (BSL-2 Special Work Practices)
BIOSAFETY LEVELS SPECIAL WORK PRACTICES
• Place used slides and coverslips in sharps containers, never in any other receptacle.
• Sharps containers
BSL-2
PPE for BSL-2
• Lab coat or apron
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Gloves
• Biosafety cabinet
Aerosols or splashes; Large volumes; High concentrations
Biosafety Cabinet
BIOSAFETY LEVELS AGENTS
• HIV
• H1N1 Flu
• Tuberculosis
• Rabies
• Yersiniapestis
• West Nile Virus
• SARS-Cov2
BSL-3
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
agents are associated with human disease and are potentially transmitted as aerosols
BSL-3
BIOSAFETY LEVELS FACILITY
• Controlled access
• Physical separation from access corridor
• Anteroom; two-self closing interlocked door
• Directional airflow with pressure
• HEPA filtered exhaust
• Change room and shower
• No windows;
• Autoclaves available
• Seamless floors
• Chemical resistant fixtures
BSL-3
BIOSAFETY LEVELS SPECIAL WORK PRACTICES
Specific training in handling agents
BSL-3 & 4
PPE for BSL-3
• Specialized clothing
• Respiratory protection (masks)
• Gloves
• Biosafety cabinet
BIOSAFETY LEVELS
For agents of life threatening nature
BSL-4
BIOSAFETY LEVELS AGENTS
• EBOLA
• Small pox
BSL-4
BIOSAFETY LEVELS FACILITY
• Controlled access
• 2 laboratory providing absolute separation of the worker from the infectious agents (suit laboratory and cabinet laboratory)
• Filtered air
• Physical separation from access corridor
• Directional airflow with pressure
• Special waste
• Airlock entry
BSL-4
PPE for BSL-4
• Lab coat or apron
• Positive Pressure suits
• Double ended autoclave
• Biosafety cabinet Class III
T/F: Current WHO guidelines no longer recommend the prescriptive use of Biosafety Levels. Instead, biocontainment are based on 3 categories of requirements anchored on a robust and site-specific risk assessment. However, there are still existing guidelines that still use BSLs as its phaseout is fairly recent
T
○ To protect user from the sample
○ To protect the environment from the sample
○ To protect the samples from external elements
Biosafety Cabinets
BSCs key aspects
• Amount of air exhausted
• Amount of employee protection
BSC CLASS
Personnel & environment
Class I