MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
Level 4 high containment virus laboratory
Within the complex of buildings that make up NIMR is a suite of laboratories for handling viruses with high pathogenic potential for birds, humans or other mammals. Its presence is necessitated by the work of the World Influenza Centre (WIC) that involves the handling of influenza viruses from all over the world such as the novel H1N1 virus prior to its emergence as a full-blown pandemic virus.
In addition poorly characterised viruses are also received. Some of these viruses, notably viruses from zoonotic H5N1 infections, will have considerable pathogenic potential in both birds and humans. Work with poorly characterised viruses and viruses that might, or do, have pandemic potential requires a high degree of containment to prevent the spread of influenza viruses into birds or the environment as well as operator protection to minimise the risk of handling viruses potentially harmful to man.
The facility is built to Health and Safety Executive requirements and DEFRA regulations under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order. It was used for the growth and characterisation of samples of the pandemic H1N1 sent from around the world, and to generate under high containment reference post-infection ferret antisera to the emerging pandemic viruses for virus antigenic analyses. It has also been used for the isolation and characterisation of multiple human isolates of H5N1 avian influenza virus, for example from the Turkish outbreak in humans in 2006.
The laboratory capacity has been extended (to 160 m2) to have two standard high containment laboratory areas and two laboratories equipped to handle infected small animals under high level containment. With the enhanced capacity, in addition to the virus surveillance and characterisation studies of the WIC, simultaneous studies of the mechanisms of disease causation by avian or other influenza viruses can be carried out.
Features of the facility
- A negative pressure air regime with HEPA filtered input and double HEPA filtered extract
- Waste treatment with heating of liquid waste and autoclave sterilisation of solid waste within the body of the facility
- Class III and Class I/III Microbiological Safety Cabinets for handling samples
- Class III cabinets for handling infected small animals
- Sealable so as to permit fumigation
- Strict codes of practice including the requirement for all workers to undergo a complete change of clothing before entering the laboratory and to shower when leaving
Level 3 laboratories
In addition to the level 4 facility, there are 11 level 3 laboratories scattered among the main buildings and biological research facilities of NIMR. These laboratories allow the safe handling of a number of pathogenic organisms, permitting studies of the microbiology and immunology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the invasion of blood cells by the malaria parasite and the growth of the retroviruses that cause AIDS.
© MRC National Institute for Medical Research
The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA
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