Biosafety and Biocontainment Flashcards by Kyra Catedral

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

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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

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: Used in research

Animals, arthropods, and plants

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: Such as animal dander, pollen, urine, saliva, or sap

Products of biological agents

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: Derived from humans, animals, or insects

Cell cultures

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: Created through genetic engineering

Genetically modified microorganisms

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: Produced by biological agents

Toxins

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: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, prions, and protozoa

Microorganisms

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Any material comprised of, containing, or that may contain biological agents and/or their harmful products, such as toxins and allergens.

Biological Material

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Biological Material

Examples

Blood
Tissue
Proteins
Bacteria, viruses and fungi
Toxins

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Potential source of harm caused by biological materials.

Biohazard

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Biohazards

• Viruses, such as Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Japanese encephalitis.
• Toxins from biological sources.
• Spores.
• Fungi.
• Pathogenic micro-organisms.
• Bio-active substances.

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implemented principles, technologies, and practices unintentional pathogens and toxins, or their unintentional prevent exposure to release

Laboratory Biosafety

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Laboratory Biosafety
PURPOSE (3)

• Protect users
• Protect those outside the laboratory
• Protect the environment

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• Institutional and personal security measures designed to prevent the loss,
theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release of pathogens and toxins

Laboratory Biosecurity

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Biosafety vs Biosecurity

BIOSAFETY
Protecting people from bad bugs.

BIOSECURITY
Protecting bad bugs from bad people.

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Principles of Biosafety (4)

Practice and procedures
Safety equipment
Facility design and construction
Increasing levels of protection

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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

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• 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

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2 types of biocontainment

Primary
Secondary

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(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

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Primary Barriers

Biosafety cabinet
Animal cage

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(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.

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Secondary Barriers

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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:

(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:

1. Toxins 2.Cytokines 3. Hormones 4. Gene expression regulators 5. Virulence factors or enhancers 6.Oncogenic gene sequences 7.Antibiotic resistance 8. 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

Biosafety and Biocontainment Flashcards

(57 cards)