Biosafety and Biocontainment Flashcards
EPIDEMICS
1900s; 100M
1970s; 60M
1918-1920; 50M
1981 - Present; 39M
1914 - 1915; 3М
1950; 2.5M
2009; 575K
1961; 570K
2013 - 2016; 11K
2003; 916
Tuberculosis
Smallpox
Influenza (Spanish Flu)
AIDS
Typhus
Malaria
H1N1 (Swine Flu)
Cholera (7th)
Ebola
SARS
Any microbiological entity, cellular or non-cellular, naturally occurring or engineered, capable of replication or of transferring genetic material that may be able to provoke infection, allergy, toxicity, or other adverse effects in humans, animals, or plants
Biological Agents
: Used in research
Animals, arthropods, and plants
: Such as animal dander, pollen, urine, saliva, or sap
Products of biological agents
: Derived from humans, animals, or insects
Cell cultures
: Created through genetic engineering
Genetically modified microorganisms
: Produced by biological agents
Toxins
: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, prions, and protozoa
Microorganisms
Any material comprised of, containing, or that may contain biological agents and/or their harmful products, such as toxins and allergens.
Biological Material
Biological Material
Examples
- Blood
- Tissue
- Proteins
- Bacteria, viruses and fungi
- Toxins
Potential source of harm caused by biological materials.
Biohazard
Biohazards
• Viruses, such as Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Japanese encephalitis.
• Toxins from biological sources.
• Spores.
• Fungi.
• Pathogenic micro-organisms.
• Bio-active substances.
implemented principles, technologies, and practices unintentional pathogens and toxins, or their unintentional prevent exposure to release
Laboratory Biosafety
Laboratory Biosafety
PURPOSE (3)
• Protect users
• Protect those outside the laboratory
• Protect the environment
• Institutional and personal security measures designed to prevent the loss,
theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release of pathogens and toxins
Laboratory Biosecurity
Biosafety vs Biosecurity
BIOSAFETY
Protecting people from bad bugs.
BIOSECURITY
Protecting bad bugs from bad people.
Principles of Biosafety (4)
- Practice and procedures
- Safety equipment
- Facility design and construction
- Increasing levels of protection
Principles of Biosafety
• Most important concept/strict adherence
• Aware of potential hazard
• Trained and proficient in techniques
• Supervisors responsible for:
• Appropriate laboratory facilities
• Personnel and training
• Special practices and precautions
• Occupational health programs
(1) Standard Microbiological Practices
• Physical containment of highly pathogenic organisms or agents usually by isolation in environmentally and biologically secure cabinets or rooms to prevent accidental infection of workers or release into the surrounding community, especially during scientific research
Biocontainment
2 types of biocontainment
Primary
Secondary
(Control Hazard at the Source)
Purpose:
• Act as the first line of defense against biological hazards.
• Prevent direct exposure to infectious agents by containing them at the point of handling.
Primary Barriers
Primary Barriers
Biosafety cabinet
Animal cage
(Structural Protection)
Purpose:
• Provide an additional layer of protection by enclosing the primary barriers.
• Ensure that hazardous agents remain confined within the laboratory and do not spread to adjacent areas.
• Designed to protect both laboratory personnel and the external environment.
Secondary Barriers
Secondary Barriers
Sealed Perimeter (Walls, Floors, and Ceiling)
Principles of Biosafety
(1) Standard Microbiological Practices
(2) Safety Equipment
(3) Facility Design and Construction
(4) Increasing Levels of Protection
Principles of Biosafety
• Minimize exposure to hazard
• Primary containment barrier
• Engineering controls/equipment
• Personal protective equipment
(PPE)
• Gloves, gowns, respirator, face shield, shoes
(2) Safety Equipment
Principles of Biosafety
• Secondary barrier/engineering controls
• Contributes to worker protection
• Protects outside the laboratory
• Environment and neighborhood
• Ex. Building and lab design, ventilation, autoclaves, cage wash facilities.
(3) Facility Design and Construction
Principles of Biosafety
Biosafety Levels 1-4 (BSL)
• Increasing levels of employee and environmental protection
Animal Biosafety Levels 1-4 (ABSL) and
Agricultural (BSL-3-Ag)
• Laboratory animal facilities
• Plant, GMO facilities
• Animal models that support research
(4) Increasing Levels of Protection
• Works with non-harmful organisms.
• Requires minimal containment measures (e.g., handwashing, decontamination).
BSL-1 (Basic Laboratory):
• Handles pathogens of moderate risk (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus).
• Requires restricted access, PPE, and biosafety cabinets for aerosol-generating procedures.
BSL-2 (Moderate Risk Laboratory):
• Works with high-risk airborne pathogens (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis).
• Requires negative air pressure, HEPA filtration, and controlled entry.
BSL-3 (High Containment Laboratory):
• Handles dangerous and exotic pathogens (e.g., Ebola virus).
• Requires positive-pressure suits, airlocks, and completely sealed facilities.
BSL-4 (Maximum Containment Laboratory):
• Specialized for high-risk agricultural research, such as zoonotic diseases that can spread between animals and humans.
BSL-3-Ag (Agricultural BSL-3):
• Combination of laboratory practices and procedures, safety equipment
(primary barriers and laboratory facilities (secondary barriers)
• Also referred to as…
Biosafety Levels
Containment Levels
• Well characterized, non-pathogenic organisms or agents
• Open bench - no containment
• Use good laboratory practices, waste disposal, and aseptic techniques
BSL 1
• Agents of moderate hazard to personnel or environment
• Examples: most non-respiratory, non lethal, agents
BSL 2
• Basic lab, but restricted access
• Containment during certain processes (i.e. aerosols, large volumes, etc.)
• Autoclave and Biological Safety Cabinet desired
• Use good laboratory practices, waste disposal, and aseptic techniques
BSL 2
• Used to describe laboratories where work with microorganisms is conducted in a BSL-2 laboratory with biosafety practices and procedures typically found at BSL-3
• NOT a recognized containment level in biosafety guidance documents
BSL 2+
• Allows for research work with microorganisms including viral vectors to take place in an environment where the safety practices are enhanced over and above the practices required at BSL-2
• May not always be appropriate for pathogens that are infectious via the inhalation route
BSL 2+
• High containment
• Agents of high hazard to personnel or environment
BSL 3
• Agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease through the inhalation route of exposure
• Clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production facilities where work is performed with indigenous or exotic agents
BSL 3
• Total containment, airtight labs, “submarine” doors, air pumps, water treatment, HEPA filtration, etc.
• Positive pressure “moonsuits”
BSL 4
• Maximum containment
• Dangerous and exotic agents that pose a high individual risk of aerosol transmitted laboratory infections
BSL 4
Risk Groups
• Assignment of microorganisms into groups based on:
• Pathogenicity of the organism
• Mode of transmission and host range
• Local availability of effective preventative measures
• Local availability of effective treatment
• Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDS)
Risk Groups
• Assignment of microorganisms into groups based on:
• Pathogenicity of the organism
• Mode of transmission and host range
• Local availability of effective preventative measures
• Local availability of effective treatment
• Pathogen Safety Data Sheets (PSDS)
(no or low individual and community risk)
A microorganism that is unlikely to cause human or animal disease.
Risk Group 1
(moderate individual risk, low community risk)
A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the community, livestock or the environment.
Risk Group 2
Laboratory exposures may cause serious infection, but effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the risk of spread of infection is limited.
Risk Group 2
(high individual risk, low community risk)
A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease but does not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another.
Effective treatment and preventive measures are available.
Risk Group 3
(high individual and community risk)
A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease and that can be readily transmitted from one individual to another, directly or indirectly.
Effective treatment and preventive measures are not usually available.
Risk Group 4
• are infections, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, that are acquired through laboratory or laboratory-related activities, as a result of working with infectious agents
Laboratory-Acquired Infections
Laboratory-Acquired Infections
•_____% due to equipment failure
•_____% related to human factors
20
80
• was first used to clone DNA segments in bacterial hosts in order to overexpress specific gene products for further studies
Recombinant DNA Technology (Genetic Engineering)
• gene therapy
• new vectors for gene transfer
• have also been used to create GMOs such as transgenic plants and animals.
Recombinant DNA Technology (Genetic Engineering)
Should consider the characteristics of donor and recipient/host organisms.
Risk Assessments for Genetically Modified Organisms
Hazards Arising Directly from the Inserted Gene (Donor Organism)
Assessment is necessary in situations where the product of the inserted
gene has known biologically or pharmacologically active properties that may give rise to harm, for example:
- Toxins
2.Cytokines - Hormones
- Gene expression regulators
- Virulence factors or enhancers
6.Oncogenic gene sequences
7.Antibiotic resistance - Allergens
Hazards Associated With the Recipient/Host
• Susceptibility of the host
• Pathogenicity of the host strain, including virulence, infectivity and toxin production
• Modification of the host range
• Recipient immune status
• Consequences of exposure
