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Biosafety, Biosecurity andBiotechnology

Iman RusmanaDepartment of Biology

Bogor Agricultural University

What is Biotechnology?

“Biotechnology is essentially the use ofliving organisms (often minute micro-organisms) and their products forhealth, social or economic purposes.”

It is considered to be the growthtechnology of the 21st century.

***Applications are widespread.**

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What is Biosafety?

Biosafety refers to the “development andimplementation of administrative workpractices, facility design and safetyequipment to prevent the transmission ofbiologic agents to workers, other personsor the environment.”

What is Biosecurity?

Security measures to protect the releaseof high consequence microbial agents,biological pathogens, toxins, criticalinformation, pests or diseases as a resultof theft or misuse.

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The Past

Major developments in sciencethat have helped shape theworld as we know it today.

Immunization - HistoryEdward Jenner, noticed that milkmaidswho developed cowpox, did notdevelop the deadly smallpox.

In 1796, Jenner took the fluid from acowpox pustule on a dairymaid's handand inoculated an 8-year-old boy.

Six weeks later, he exposed the boy tosmallpox, and the boy did not developany symptoms.

Jenner coined the term "vaccine" fromthe word "vaca" which means "cow" inLatin.

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Francis Crick and James Watson

•Discovery in 1953 DNA molecule was a double helix

•DNA is the genetic blueprint for each cell and determines every

characteristic of a living organism.

Insulin

•First major product of Biotechnology

•From the 1920’s Insulin could beisolated from the pancreas pigs &cows

•Allergic reactions to bovine by somepeople

•Using Molecular Biology techniquesan insulin – producing gene wasinserted into bacteria. (1970’s)

•The bacteria then could producehuman insulin.

Human Insulin (From

U. of Arizona)

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Cloning – Dolly and Beyond!!

•1997 - First cloned sheep

•Since Dolly, mice, goats cows and othermammals have been cloned.

•The result of splitting an embryo into 2at a very early stage results in mammalclones.

•Dolly was produced by a techniquecalled somatic cell nuclear transfer. DNAfrom the nucleus of a cell from the bodyis put into another sheep’s egg whichhad the nucleus removed. Thenimplanted. Only success in 277 attempts.

•Many ethical issues concerning humancloning!!!!!!!!

These past scientific developments haveall helped initiate the need for InstitutionalBiosafety Committees (IBC)

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Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)( Biosafety )

Immunization

Biological Risks – High risk microorganisms

Pregnant personnel.

Hazardous Substances

Waste disposal

Radiation registration

Occupational Health and Safety

Identify the Risks (Risk Assessment)

Minimize the risks

Safe Operating Procedures

Monitor the Risks

Spill / Exposure contingency plans

Inductions

Training

Good laboratory practice

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Biosecurity

No formal Biosecurity committee requirements as yet.

Microorganisms could be removed from a laboratory and culturedwith no--one knowing.

Bioterrorism - real threat to the modern world.

Biosecurity protocols should be included in the development of anynew procedures.

Awareness of practices in the laboratory are crutial.

Record Keeping

The Present

Examples of current applications

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Avian Flu

A Natural Mutation

Biosafety &Biosecurityprocedures

extremely important

DNA fingerprinting

DNA fingerprinting can help investigators identify thesuspect in a crime.The pattern of bands represents a person's geneticmakeup.In the blood sample shown: Suspect S2 matches theevidence (E)

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Genetic Engineering

Has the potential to improve humanhealth, nutrition and comfort

but…….

It carries social, ethical andenvironmental risks, many of whichmay be presently unforeseen

How can we manage such a huge andcomplex issue?

Current and potential benefits of genetechnology

Medicine :

Delivering vaccines

Gene therapy

Agriculture:

Resistance to insects or viruses – reduced need for insecticides

Tolerance to herbicides

Reduced need for irrigation

Resistance to frost (tomatoes), salinity

Bioremediation bacteria that consume e.g spilled oil

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Genetic engineering – Are therenegatives??

Allergies

Gene

pollution Antibioticresistantbacteria

No longterm

testing

Unknownside

effects

Crop failure

Toxins

Stem Cell Research

The DebateContinues!!!

Source: University ofWisconsin-Madison.

Biosafety protocols must be paramount

•Non specialized cellsthat have the ability toproduce specializedcells for varioustissues in the body.

•Embryonic stem cellsare originallyharvested from anembryo.

•Expected advances inthe treatment ofcancer, Parkinsonsand Alzheimers

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Nude Mice – Mutant mice

•First bred by distinguishedCzech immunologist “MiroslavHolub”.

•Nude mice are hairless due toa mutation.

•Have no thymus gland and Tlymphocytes hence cannotreject tumours or transplantsof cells from humans or otheranimals

•Used to gain insights into theimmune system, leukaemia,solid tumours, AIDS

Utilization of Micro--organismsin Biotechnology

Micro--organisms are used to:

Turn milk into cheese andyogurt.

To ferment beer and wine.

Yeast is used in bread tomake it rise.

Yes Biosecurity risks areassociated with theseproducts as well!!!

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Research projects that couldchange the world

Edible Vaccines•Various fruits are currentlyinvolved in research for deliveringedible vaccines using transgenicplants.

•Especially useful in developingcountries

•An edible vaccine doesn't needsterile syringes, costly refrigeration,or multiple injections.

•Millions of children die worldwideeach year from diarrhoea that canbe prevented easily with vaccines.

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Plants that detect land mines bychanging colour

When the roots ofthese GMO plants hitnitrogen dioxide(which leaches intothe soil from buriedland mines), theplant changes colour.

Kevlar - many times stronger than steelUsed in Bullet proof vests.

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Spider silk - many times strongerthan Kevlar!

Applications of spider silk

bullet--proof clothing

wear--resistant light weight clothing

ropes, nets, seat--belts, parachutes

biodegradable bottles

bandages, surgical sutures

artificial tendons

supports for weak blood vessels

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Milk Silk!

Bacterial Resistance

MRSA (MethicillinResistantStaphylococcusAureus) bacterium,is an antibiotic-multiresistant bacterium.

•It has beenresponsible for thecontamination ofnumerous hospitals

Increasing Problem

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The Future

Biotechnology Graduates and LaboratoryTechnicians could work on any suchresearch projects – anywhere in the world.

Conclusion -21st Century

Laboratory Technicians are often the main contact forpost graduate students and researchers – often ofInternational origin whose native land has vastly differentregulations to Australia.

Numerous challenges in both occupational health andsafety issues and regulatory compliance.

Enormous diversity in the field of science and theextensive collaborations that exist today betweenresearchers emphasizes the importance of providinglaboratory personnel with all the relevant information.

High quality support and a good communication systemare critical to ensure that best practice is achieved by all

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Mike Lane, Caglecartoons.com

Government, Scientists And The Community Need To All Work Together

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