Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am using a bacteria called Serratia Marcescens. I need to know if it is safe. I have read several articals on the internet and get conflicting answers.

What do you think?

Thanks for your time!!

Hi!

Yes, Serratia Marcescens is safe. I used this bacteria in a lab last year for biology.

Thanks that made my mom feel better.

Hi there,

I know that your question was already answered, but I wanted to post a reply in case other people read this post.

First of all, it's always good to know where a microbe is normally found. This can give you a clue of whether or not it's safe. If you google Serratia marcescens, you'll find that it's a saprophyte, meaning that it's a bacteria that survives on decaying matter for sustenance. That means it's probably a soil bacteria (among other locations) and probably not a big deal.

But, it's important to check these things up thoroughly, *especially* for biosafety review. You'll need to fill out the proper forms for your science fair project (see SRC guidelines).

In general, you want to know the biosafety level of your bacteria. BL1 bacteria are completely nonpathogenic and you can work with them very safely. In contrast, BL4 level pathogens are incredibly dangerous that require special containment. BL4 pathogens include things like Ebola and M. tuberculosis. To find out the biosafety level, go to the CDC website, or google "Serratia marcescens biosafety". You'll find that it's a BL1, and perfectly safe to work with.

Here's a webpage with an example from the google search I performed:

http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/rac/guidelin ... NDIX_A.htm

Your microbe is located on this list, and it tells you that institutions don't even need special approval to work with these microbes.

I hope that was helpful.

Best of luck with your project!

Linh

Thanks again, I'm glad I found this site. This new information will help if I do another project usding bacteria.