The development of Phosphix adhered to stringent safety protocols. The team operated in a level I biosafety laboratory, where Howie-cuff lab coats and gloves were mandatory. Eye protection was utilised as required to mitigate identified risks. Team members received comprehensive training before engaging in wet lab experiments and had immediate access to the Perak team (including first aiders), seasoned advisors, and principal investigators for any safety-related concerns. All team members signed risk assessments prior to any experiments. All laboratory waste was handled in strict accordance with university guidelines, and team members underwent specialised training on proper waste disposal prior to commencing lab work.
To enhance project safety, all wet-lab experiments were exclusively designed with non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (DH5-alpha and Lemo BL21) as host organisms. These strains are classified as Risk Group 1, posing minimal risk to human health. Additionally, our proposed implementation exclusively includes purified recombinant proteins, with virtually no traces of the original genetics and/or organisms present - thus removing the risk of their unvetted propagation.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) was strictly adhered to when working with hazardous substances, including Virkon and various antibiotics. To minimise exposure to carcinogenic compounds, Midori Green and SYBR Safe were used as non-carcinogenic gel stains instead of ethidium bromide. Highly flammable materials were stored separately in a suitable cabinet.
Phosphix followed national regulations outlined by the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations of 2014. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) assessments were filled out by team members and then reviewed by the project's PI prior to wet-lab experiments beginning.