Safety

Safety has always been our team's foremost concern, and we have taken comprehensive measures to ensure a secure working environment. Our project revolves around Lactococcus lactis, a well-known microorganism, and the strain we utilized, MC1636, is non-pathogenic, falling within the biosafety level 1 classification and is a Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) organism. We underwent rigorous training, guided by experts from Dr. Guhan Jayaraman's lab, to handle Lactococcus lactis effectively.

Our safety measures included:

Laboratory Infrastructure: We conducted our research in a biosafety level 1 laboratory, which is well-equipped with essential facilities, including:

• A biosafety cabinet
• A shaking incubator
• A 4 ̊  C refrigerator
• A -20 ̊  C freezer
• A microwave oven
• A centrifuge
• A vortex
• Scales
• Various laboratory reagents

Sterile Conditions: We maintained a sterile work environment by performing all tasks within the confines of a biosafety cabinet. This ensured that accidental contamination did not occur, particularly important since our work could have repercussions on adjacent labs.

Safety Protocols: To minimize risks, we diligently followed safety protocols, including:

• Wearing gloves and masks during all experiments.
• Practicing thorough handwashing before leaving the laboratory.
• Enforcing a strict no-food policy within the lab.
• Waste Disposal: Proper disposal of waste is critical. We adhered to the Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules - 2016, issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Monitoring of waste disposal was overseen by the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board.

In summary, our commitment to safety in handling Lactococcus lactis is unwavering, with strict adherence to established protocols and stringent measures to maintain a secure work environment.