UCLouvain, the French-speaking university based in Louvain-la-Neuve, boasts a new well-equipped high-security laboratory to study dangerous and emerging pathogens.
The possibilities are endless with this new lab, as it can analyse the behaviour of some of the most threatening organisms with minute precision. Allow us to explain:
High bio-safety level
Two factors together make this lab quite noteworthy. First, there are various levels of biosafety for laboratories, going from BSL-1 (lowest) to BSL-4 (highest). UCLouvain’s lab operates at Bio-safety level 3, which entails quite restrictive physical access control, specialized ventilation, containment equipment selected to minimise aerosol generation, dedicated personal protective equipment, appropriately trained staff and clear standards of procedure. For example, no one is allowed in the laboratory by themselves, they have to work in pairs and wear full protective suits and face masks.
Atomic force microscopes (AFMs)
Second, the lab is equipped with atomic force microscopes (AFMs). Those have needles that are finer than a record player stylus. This allows scientists to observe how pathogens attach to cells and identify weak points that could be targeted by future treatments or vaccines. One of UCLouvain’s microscopes is a latest-generation model. Only one other lab in the world has the combination of BSL-3 security and AFMs, according to UCLouvain.
Hopefully, the researchers led by Professors David Alsteens and Anika Gillis can help counter viruses and other pathogens to nip present and future pandemics in the bud.
