Biology Safety Lab-3 (BSL-3) in Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (BRI, UMS) is the only research control center for biosafety class 3 virus / bacteria in the Borneo and the largest in Malaysia with the ability to offer comprehensive facilities for diagnostic and research activities on dangerous clinical pathogens. In the early of 2011 until 2014 this laboratory has received certified safety status (the Biosafety Certification) from the Biosafety Committee of Independent which was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for all the undertaken working procedures and laboratory management activities. Biology Safety Lab-3 is a lab that well-equipped with high level of physical protection facilities specialized for researches that involved with contagious pathogens level 3 such as Tuberculosis, H5N1 virus, H1N1 virus, Coxsackie virus, Japan Encephalitis (JE) virus and Nipah virus. The objectives of the laboratory biosafety level 3 are to serve as a high prestige reference center of pathogens Class 3 in Malaysia especially Sabah, to study diseases that spread in Sabah, conduct investigations that include BSL-3 pathogens, provide facilities for the study of tuberculosis, H5N1 virus, H1N1 virus, Coxsackie virus, Japan Encephalitis (JE) virus and Nipah virus and to test cure for deadly diseases such as HIV and Tuberculosis. Besides lab facilities, BRI has put in place of a mechanism to enable the public, universities and the biotechnology industry access to services, equipment and facilities in this institute. Interested parties can utilize the usage of our laboratories through collaborations and services by contacting our curator. 

Similar to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3), our ABSL3 involves practices involving animals infected with indigenous or exotic agents, agents that present a potential for aerosol transmission, and agents causing serious or potentially lethal disease.

Parallel with the global need to improve agriculture for food and energy sources, the transgenic green house is equipped with high end facilities provided to accommodate the transgenic plants studies that are genetically modified. Interested parties can utilize the usage of our laboratories through collaborations and services by contacting our curator.

The Biochemistry Lab in BRI is dealing with biochemical works from isolation, purification, and characterization of biomolecules. Spectrophotometry instruments such as UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer are available in this lab. This lab is also equipped with chromatography instruments including LC-MS, HPLC, and FPLC for metabolites identification and protein purification. There is a Proteomic Room in this lab that is installed with a 2D gel for protein separation. Biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in water, formalin contamination in fish, and melamine contamination in milk products have been successfully developed in this lab. 

Molecular Microbiology is another niche area in BRI. The Microbiology Lab consists of all basic instruments needed for microbiology works, including light microscopes, shaking incubator, DGGE, etc. One of the projects conducted in this lab is focusing on antarctic bacteria in understanding their thermal adaptation and their extreme enzymes/proteins for various applications. In addition, research related to pathogenic microbes are also actively being conducted in this lab. Interested parties are welcome to join us in molecular microbiology research.

Molecular genetics is a niche area in BRI. The Genomic Lab is equipped with high-end equipment in molecular research such as real-time PCR systems for gene expression studies and bioanalyzers for integrity measurement of the samples. This lab also consists of a Gel Electrophoresis Room that is installed with classy gel imaging systems. Besides that, various types of sequencers are available in this lab and they are open for sequencing services including basic DNA Sanger Sequencer, MiSeq Sequencer, PacBio RSII, and ABI Genetic Analyzer. These sequencers have been used to decode the whole genome of pineapple MD2, some corals in Sabah, and many unique bacteria. Currently, this lab is involved in the genetic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Sabah.     

Sabah is recognized as a major locus of plant diversity. The Natural Product Chemistry Lab is focused on research projects related to bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites extracted from plants and other organisms. This lab is equipped with advanced analytical instruments including:

 

ICP-MS - detection of a trace amount of elements

GC-MS - volatile compound detection

FT-IR - functional groups detection in a compound.

The Instrumentation Lab houses high-end microscopy instruments for sample characterization. This lab is installed with a complete set of microscopes, including a typical confocal microscope, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM) for your research needs. In addition, this lab is also equipped with histological instruments, such as the microtome, for sample preparation prior to microscopy analysis.

The field in bioinformatics is growing for data management in modern biology and medicine. The Bioinformatics Lab in BRI consists of 40 units of LAN-connected PCs and are integrated with different operating systems such as LINUX for bioinformatics analyses. Interested parties are invited to utilize the facilities in this lab for teaching or research purposes.