phage are safe!

[PANGELETTI at bmg.bhs.uab.edu]

I was somewhat disappointed by the post that I saw in which       
alenkd at nwrain.com wrote that he was concerned that he may have been 
infected by his lambda phage library.  First of all "RED" phage are 
TOTALLY INCAPABLE OF INFECTING ANIMAL CELLS.  There is no way that the 
phage could have infected your tissues.  I think that you may very well 
have some kind of illness such as chicken pox or shingles but it was not 
caused by phage.  I would consider going to see a doctor.  While you are 
recovering, I suggest that you read the Field's Virology or Encyclopedia 
of Virology sections on phage and host range.  I'm not trying to lambast 
you, I just want to point out the flaw before others with even less 
scientific training then yourself demonize the tools of science.
Get well soon.

Cheers. 

Peter C Angeletti
     

Original post:
"I work with Lambda gt10 and gt11 cDNA libraries and think that I have 
come down with a viral infection.  I admit to poor handling of 
the library and find it indeed possible that I have "contaminated" my 
self.  Is this possible?  This is a very common lambda virus to be 
used in molecular biology so I can only assume it has been accepted as 
"safe" to some degree.  My only symptom is a red "Rash" 
covering my face, neck, arms, torso, back, and thighs.  The rash is not 
raised and had developed first on the upper body, then 
progressed to the legs, it is not present on the hands, under arms, 
lower legs, or pelvis. (truncated)"  
Sincerely,   RED
Peter C. Angeletti
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Adenovirus interactions with host cells
PAngeletti at BMG.BHS.UAB.EDU
or 
zm00016 at uabdpo.uab.dpo.edu