Safety and Security | WLSA Shanghai Academy

Safety in the Laboratory

Prepare before experiments
Before entering the laboratory, we need to make sure we are familiar with the operating practices. The two PhD students served as our instructors and gave us a meeting the day before we started our first experiment to teach us some rules of the laboratory. At the same time, they explained to us in detail the role and precautions of each experimental operation.

Biological & Chemical risks
All our discarded consumables and generated waste are disposed of in waste tanks. All our gloves and masks are discarded before leaving the lab to ensure proper disposal of waste. Since our project requires the use of HEK-293T cells, many of our operations need to be done in the cell culture room. We all wear lab coats, slippers and masks strictly when entering the cell culture room, and enter and exit through the dust room. Laboratory supplies and instruments brought in from the outside are first put into the two-way transparent window for disinfection and dust removal.

Physical risks
We need to monitor the fluorescence of cells when stimulated by light, which requires the use of confocal microscopy. Confocal microscopy requires a lot of precision to handle, as a result, we finish it under the guidance and supervision of an instructor.

Safety Research & Reference

HEK-293T Cell Line Safety

Mansouri, M., Hussherr, M. D., Strittmatter, T., Buchmann, P., Xue, S., Camenisch, G., & Fussenegger, M. (2021). Smart-watch-programmed green-light-operated percutaneous control of therapeutic transgenes. Nature communications, 12(1), 3388. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23572-4

Published in Nature Communications, a high-impact peer-reviewed journal, this study demonstrates the therapeutic application of engineered HEK-293T cells in diabetic mice, supporting their biosafety for subcutaneous implantation. The source is authoritative due to its rigorous experimental validation and citation in subsequent research (e.g., Frontiers in Bioengineering, 2023). Timeliness is strong, as recent studies (2021–2023) confirm the cell line's controlled behavior and non-pathogenicity. Reliability is further reinforced by the journal's focus on translational biomedicine.

Tool Component Safety

Gal4/UAS System
Jin, M., Liu, S., Zhan, M., & Huang, J. D. (2025). Engineered Genetic Circuits Activated by Bezafibrate Improve ESC-Based TAA Cancer Vaccine Efficacy and PD-L1 Nanobody Therapy. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 12(23), e2500272. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202500272

This Advanced Science paper highlights the adaptability and safety of the Gal4/UAS system in mammalian models, including immunotherapeutic applications. The publisher (Wiley) is a reputable source for cutting-edge biomedical tools, and the study's methodology (2024) ensures relevance. Authority is underscored by its use in controlled gene expression without off-target effects.

iLID-SspB System
Guntas, G., Hallett, R. A., Zimmerman, S. P., Williams, T., Yumerefendi, H., Bear, J. E., & Kuhlman, B. (2015). Engineering an improved light-induced dimer (iLID) for controlling the localization and activity of signaling proteins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112(1), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1417910112

Published in PNAS, this foundational study establishes the iLID-SspB system's minimal background activity and metabolic inertness. While older (2014), its reliability is confirmed by continued citations (e.g., ACS Synthetic Biology, 2015). The journal's prestige and the authors' expertise (e.g., synthetic biology) bolster credibility.

NanoLuc (Nluc) Reporter
Xu, H., Jian, X., Wen, Y., Xu, M., Jin, R., Wu, X., Zhou, F., Cao, J., Xiao, G., Peng, K., Xie, Y., Chen, H., & Zhang, L. (2024). A nanoluciferase SFTSV for rapid screening antivirals and real-time visualization of virus infection in mice. EBioMedicine, 99, 104944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104944

This Lancet-affiliated journal article validates Nluc's safety and efficacy in murine models. The 2023 publication date ensures timeliness, and the experimental rigor (e.g., immunological assays) supports reliability. The publisher (Elsevier) emphasizes translational relevance.

Environmental Safety of HEK-293T

Li, C. Y., Wu, T., Zhao, X. J., Yu, C. P., Wang, Z. X., Zhou, X. F., Li, S. N., & Li, J. D. (2023). A glucose-blue light AND gate-controlled chemi-optogenetic cell-implanted therapy for treating type-1 diabetes in mice. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 11, 1052607. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1052607

This open-access peer-reviewed article explicitly addresses HEK-293T's inability to survive or propagate in vivo/environmental conditions, aligning with biosafety guidelines. The source is authoritative due to its focus on biocontainment mechanisms and recent publication (2023). Frontiers' scope ensures relevance to risk assessment.

Blue Light Safety and Tissue Penetration

Published in a peer-reviewed Frontiers journal, this study confirms the safety of blue light activation in implanted HEK-293T cells, noting minimal phototoxicity due to limited tissue penetration depth. The source is authoritative, with robust in vivo data showing no adverse effects in mice. Timeliness is excellent (2023), and reliability is strengthened by the journal's focus on translational optogenetics. The publisher's goal to bridge engineering and biology aligns with the study's emphasis on controlled light delivery.

Endogenous Bioluminescence via Nluc/FFz

Smith, S., Rayner, J. O., & Kim, J. H. (2025). Fluorofurimazine, a novel NanoLuc substrate, enhances real-time tracking of influenza A virus infection without altering pathogenicity in mice. Microbiology spectrum, 13(3), e0268924. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02689-24

This 2024 study in ASM's Microbiology Spectrum demonstrates the high sensitivity and low cytotoxicity of the Nluc/FFz system in murine models, supporting its use as an endogenous alternative to external light. The journal's reputation in microbial and molecular tools underscores authority, while the recent publication ensures timeliness. Experimental rigor (e.g., toxicity assays) and the publisher's applied science focus enhance reliability.