Newswise — The Biosecurity Research Institute, near completion on the Kansas State University campus, is a comprehensive biosafety level 3 facility that will provide scientists a secure location in which to study pathogens and pests that threaten animal and plant-based agricultural systems, and to develop intervention strategies to minimize impacts on the nation's food supply and economy.
"The pace of globalization has increased dramatically over the last few decades and projections are that the trends will continue," said Jim Stack, institute director, pictured at left. "People and goods move over greater distances in shorter periods of time than ever before. With these people and goods move pathogens and insect pests. As a result, populations of hosts -- humans, for example -- pathogens and vectors are mixing at greater frequencies resulting in the emergence of new diseases and the geographic redistribution of recurring diseases. The pace of the world has quickened; disease detection, diagnosis and response must keep pace.
"These threats encompass emerging and recurring diseases of animals and plants, some of which also have the capacity to cause disease in humans and natural ecosystems, respectively. The economic and human impact of these diseases can be devastating. It is important that scientists have the ability to work with these organisms before a disease outbreak so preventive and treatment measures can be developed and deeper understanding of the biological threats attained," he said.
The Biosecurity Research Institute will be unique among biocontainment research facilities in several important ways, Stack said. Researchers will be able to evaluate actual processing conditions and determine if there are safer methods -- researchers will be able to look at the plant or animal all the way to the product. The institute will be one of only a few labs in the world with such capabilities.
"Food production and distribution systems are often referred to as farm-to-fork systems; these systems are complex and integrated," he said. "BRI will be the only containment research and training facility within the U.S. that integrates plant pathology, food safety, entomology, veterinary medicine and molecular biology, allowing for comprehensive research programs concerning high-consequence pathogens and pests that threaten our food production systems."
In addition, K-State's Biosecurity Research Institute will allow the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic tools to successfully manage disease outbreaks.
"Effective treatment of diseases usually requires an understanding of the basic biology of the pathogens that cause disease," Stack said. "BRI will permit scientists to ask fundamental questions about disease associated with high-consequence pathogens."
In recent years, threats from intentional use of biological agents have increased, as evidenced by the anthrax attacks of 2001. Stack said it is important for law enforcement authorities to be able to determine the source of introduced agents to identify those responsible in the case of an attack.
"Microbial forensics is a newly emerging field of science for which the methods and technology to identify agents of bioterrorism and biocrime are being developed," Stack said. "It is important to work with the agents of concern and related microorganisms and toxins to develop reliable methods. Such research can be accomplished safely and securely within BRI."
Work at the Biosecurity Research Institute will include the following:
* Infectious diseases, especially diseases that affect or could threaten the state's livestock industry.* Research on pathogens that harm the state's food crops.* Exploring food and meat processing methods to bring safer foods and meats to consumers.* General research on mechanisms animals use to ward off infectious diseases.* Education and training capabilities in both agricultural and human health fields on containing a disease outbreak, either from an unintentional source or from a terrorist.
Research suites will include the following:
* Food processing research suite* Food crop infectious disease research suite* Food animal infectious disease research suite* Basic biology of infectious disease research suite* Biosecurity education suite for training and sharing information
The range of research possibilities includes avian flu, brucellosis, soybean rust, salmonella and E. coli. Researchers will study known and emerging diseases. They will be able to track the paths of pathogens as they would occur in the outside world.
Biosafety level 3 is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research or production facilities in which work is done with indigenous or exotic agents which may cause serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of exposure by the inhalation route, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, for some of the agents studied in biosafety level 3 laboratories at the Biosecurity Research Institute, vaccines or antidotes are available.
At the Biosecurity Research Institute, several levels of safety and security are necessary to ensure that the agents of concern remain within the containment space and that the scientists handling the agents remain safe, Stack said. Biosafety and biocontainment involve three necessary components: facilities, the building with its suites and special air-handling capabilities; equipment and other protective technologies within the laboratory suites; and procedures, the way research is done inside the suites.
The building will have special air-handling systems that filter the air, preventing release of materials from the research space. All waste will be processed to kill even the hardiest microorganisms. Scientists will be required to complete education and training programs prior to working within the facility. They will wear personal protective equipment and follow research protocols that minimize the potential for exposure, Stack said.
The training and education area of the building will include classrooms with capacity for digital interface with the research areas within the containment space; training can even be broadcast to remote locations.
"This will permit the highest caliber of training experience on the handling and identification of high-consequence pathogens and pests and the diagnosis of disease states in animals and plants without exposing trainees to the actual agents," Stack said. "The latest in digital instruction technology will be integral to the BRI educational experience."
K-State's Biosecurity Research Institute will be a campus-wide resource available to all colleges with a need for such a facility. In addition, researchers at the institute will collaborate with scientific colleagues in academe, industry and government. The institute will be a functional research unit within K-State's National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, which coordinates interdisciplinary efforts in agricultural safety and security at the university.
A building such as the Biosecurity Research Institute requires more space for engineering controls and equipment than a normal laboratory. The approximately 113,000-square foot facility will house about 31,000 square feet dedicated to laboratories and training areas, and around 10,000 square feet for an administrative area.
Construction of the $54-million facility commenced in fall 2004, and is expected to be completed in late summer/early fall 2006. A period of commissioning will follow the building's completion, where all building systems and features will be rigorously tested to ensure they function to the specifications required to operate the facility safely, Stack said. It is anticipated that research within the building will begin in January 2007.
Facility architect firm for the building is Peckham, Guyton, Albers and Viet. The firm, with offices across the country, has experience and expertise in designing facilities similar to the Biosecurity Research Institute. The architectural team features a variety of specialized consultants, including biocontainment specialists, security consultants, meat processing specialists and more. Turner Construction, a worldwide firm that has participated in the construction of biosecurity facilities throughout the country, is providing construction manager at-risk services to the project.
Funds for the facility include revenue bonds, various federal monies, private cash contributions and gifts-in-kind.
"BRI is one component of an extensive K-State network of research facilities dedicated to the food production, food safety and food security systems of Kansas and the nation," Stack said. "BRI programs will complement the research and education programs in many departments throughout the university. BRI provides added capability to conduct research at the leading edge of food safety and security, with global impact."
Biosecurity Research Institutehttp://fss.k-state.edu/facilities/BRI.htm
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