From A Culture of Violence to A Culture of Peace: Transforming Human Spirit

Organized by Bioprocess Engineering Student Society (BIOSS), at Sultanah Zanariah Library (PSZ), from 18^th to 22^nd of February 2008, from 9am to 9pm.

The Bioprocess Engineering Student Society (BIOSS) has taken the initiative to organize the peace themed exhibition entitled “From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit” in collaboration with Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), to inculcate a culture of peace among the community of UTM.

This peace exhibition in conjunction of the 50^th anniversary of calling for the abolition of nuclear weapon worldwide in 1957 by the second President of Soka Gakkai International, Mr Josei Toda has been held in various stops around the country. In the past 1 year, the exhibition has toured Penang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Selangor, Malacca and Johor. In Johor alone, the exhibition has toured City Square, Batu Pahat, Muar, Kempas before coming into UTM. Total number of viewers of the exhibition in Johor before the stop in UTM is more than 38000 people. The exhibition in UTM is targeting another 3000 viewers to break the 40000 benchmark, the highest record of viewers in 1 state in the country.

On 19^th of February 2008, the Dean of Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering (FKKKSA), Prof. Dr Ariffin Samsuri, and the Chairman of Soka Gakkai Malaysia, Johor Branch, Mr Tan Kiang Howe, together with Organizing Committee President, Andy Seet Tjen Onn, have launched the exhibition at the PSZ through a simple ribbon cutting and souvenir exchange ceremony.

Since opening on Monday, the exhibition has drawn around 600 visitors daily, including a large number of international students, many of whom have given positive feedbacks on the exhibition.

2007... What A Wonderful Year It Was

2007... A whole year of real roller-coaster ride... It may well deserved as the most prolific and fruitful year in my life thus far; with many accomplishments which I will always cherish and many fond memories which I will always treasure. It was a year of great successes and triumphs, as well as hurdles and obstacles which became a great learning path. As 2007 gives way to 2008, I believe it will be a suitable time to reflect on the 'whats', 'whens', 'hows', 'wheres' and 'who's' of a great year it was...


"Rome is not built in one day," This expression is especially true in the context of my 2007. Many accomplishments, as reflected, were actually fruit of hard work and determination for the past 22 years. My conviction to live life as fullest as possible has indeed inculcated such a positive working attitude and great self- esteem.

Being able to conduct BENEX despite all the odds reaffirmed me and the people around me that no matters how rigorous the road ahead, you could achieve your aims as long as you don't give up and stay united.

Being able to travel to Taiwan convinced me that nothing was impossible and that as long as you tried hard enough, miracle would happen. "When there's a will, there's a way."

Being selected as an Environmental Envoy by the United Nation made me believe that it was never too late to try and play a part to heal the world.

Being in the Golden Key reaffirmed my belief that wisdom and intellect have to come hand-in hand. "A clever man need not be a wise man; A fool can be a better man"

Being an intern in Malaysian Vaccines enlightened me on the working culture in the real biotechnology industry and further boosted my interest in the field.

Being involved in SGM restored my faith and my commitment to the kosen-rufu development in Malaysia and made me realized my mission again as courageous youth in creating values and integrity.

Being an emcee again after so many years rebuilt my passion for the trade and made me realized my true passion, at the same time, reminded me of the very skill which got me to where I am today.

Being a market interviewer gave me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and make new friends all along.

Being involved in research works, whether it's for thesis or technical design project, made me understood the fact that I still have a lot to learn from others.

Being able to pass my examinations in flying colors again and obtained that magical number that I have always wanted just simply blew me away... Obtaining 4.0 flat in one of my busiest semesters made me wonder would there be an angel up there who grant me every wish come true.

But most of all, the thing that I treasure most, of all the greats that have happened in the past 12 months, was something very simple and subtle yet very meaningful to me...

A smile, and an exclamation by the people around me, telling me that I have made an impact in their life in some small ways, inspired them to strive harder and become better... The chance to see people around me growing together with me... And a small compliment from the people who are dear to me, saying that I have made them proud...

I have come a long and hard way... But as 2008 opens its curtain, it will be just a new beginning of explorations and discoveries. Hail the new year!!!

BIOTECHNOLOGY LEARNING CURVES SERIES: Introduction to Vaccine Production (Part 7)

Bacterial Vaccines: Preparation of Inoculum Media (Tryptic Soil Broth)

The inoculums media used for the fermentation process is called Triptych Soil Broth (TSB). 15 L TSB media is used to inoculate into 200 L fermentation media. To produce 1 L of TSB solution, 30g of TSB powder is diluted with 1L water. The figures above show the process of making the TSB inoculums media.

After that, the colonies of bacteria will be transfered to the 15L inoculum TSB media and incubated for 24 hours. This step is to enable the bacteria to further propagate before being transfered into the bioreactor.

BIOTECHNOLOGY LEARNING CURVES SERIES: Introduction to Vaccines Production (Part 6)

Bacterial Vaccines: Preparation of Seed Bacteria

Eight Pasteurella multocida strains which have different antigenic structures seed are taken out from the freezer and allow standing for half an hour to thaw the seed. Then, it was sub cultured on the blood agar and incubated at 37^oC for 24 hours. Due to the rich nutrient provided from the blood agar, there should be a good growth of the bacteria. The purity can be observed directly according to the characteristic, morphology and smell. If it found out contains the contaminant, another sub culture is done to further purify the bacteria. After that, 20 pure single colonies from the plate are inoculated into the universal bottles containing TSB and incubated at 37^oC for 4 hours.

BIOTECHNOLOGY LEARNING CURVES SERIES: Introduction to Vaccine Production (Part 5)

Viral Vaccine: Eggs Drilling, Virus Inoculation and Vaccine Harvesting

Before proceeding to the inoculation process, the eggs have to be drilled to make a tiny hole in order to let the syringe penetrate the egg shell. A small electric rotary (driller) is used to drill a tiny hole on the drilling point that was marked during the marking process. The hole is made by slowly touch the rotary part of the driller on the drilling point. This step has to be done very carefully without breaking the inner membrane of the eggs.

Immediately after the eggs are drilled, the eggs will be transfered to the clean room (Egg Laboratory) for inoculation process through the passbox system. Optimal volume of 0.2ml inoculums is injected per egg. The syringe was thrust down vertically through the hole on the shell at 45° and the inoculum is discharged into the allantoic cavity. The hole is immediately sealed with melted paraffin wax and petroleum jelly to prevent contamination. Then the eggs are incubated for a few days depending on the virus used. After the incubation, the eggs have to be chilled in cold room (+4^oC) for 24 hours in order to harden the blood vessel. This step must be done because it can make the process harvesting easier.

The harvesting step is to collect the allantoic fluid of the eggs. The eggs first have to be swabbed with iodine containing alcohol around the sealed tiny hole in order to further sterilize the outer surface of the eggs. Then, the egg’s shell is broken with forceps according to the air sack marking. The allantoic will be harvested into the sterilized bottle of 500ml. 10ml of the antibiotic will be added in the bottle and 3ml allantoic fluid from each bottle will be taken out for sterility test. All the bottles will then send to the cold room at +4^oC.

BIOTECHNOLOGY LEARNING CURVES SERIES: Introduction to Vaccines Production (Part 4)

Viral Vaccine: Candling & Marking of Eggs

The process for the production of viral vaccine and bacterial vaccine are very different due to the nature of the microbes used.Viral vaccine which is based on viruses needs viable cells (living cells) to survive and propagate meanwhile bacterial vaccine needs only growth nutrient to grow on. Hence, in producing viral vaccine, we need to have incubated eggs (usually SPF- Specific Pathogen Free). SPF means that the eggs are free from 26 common diseases and pathogens. One of the main step in preparing the eggs for vaccine production is eggs candling.

On 7^th day, the eggs will undergo the candling process where the eggs are being observed under the light. The infertile or dead eggs are discarded and the fertile eggs are put in to the incubator for another 3days. The eggs can be differentiated under the light based on the characteristics as follows:

Infertile egg : no embryo

Dead egg : contain embryo but no blood vessel

Fertile egg : contain both embryo and blood vessel

On 10^th day, the eggs will go through the marking process. The eggs are observed under the lamp and the staff will mark the air sack, drilling point and the position of the eye of the embryo. This is an important procedure as it helps in the drilling, inoculation and harvesting procedures later. The marked drilling point indicates the position on the egg shell to be drilled and inoculated while the air sack marked will indicate the position of the shell that can be discarded during the harvesting process. The eye marking are to avoid the inoculation of the virus onto the eye of the embyo which will eventually cause hemorrhagic behavior in the embryo and cause the allantoic fluid to become reddish.

BIOTECHNOLOGY LEARNING CURVES SERIES: Introduction to Vaccines Production (Part 3)

Safety Garments Worn In the Production Plant

The staffs are required to wear proper attire in the plant as an adherence to the GMP standards. In the plants itself, all staffs have to put on laboratory coat, cap, laboratory pants, and laboratory shoes before getting into the production line. Before getting into the clean rooms, the staffs are required to wear special ‘jump-suits’ which include face-mask, hood, garment, and bootie as an extra protective attire to the labcoats, pants, caps and shoes. This is again to avoid contamination to the products during manufacturing processes and to ensure safety of the staffs as they handle bio-hazardous materials.

The figures above show the standard step-by-step procedures in putting on the jumpsuits before getting into the clean rooms: The garments are worn in the changing room which is located in between the clean room and the production line so that all staffs must get changed before getting in from the production line.