BSL-4 facility and New virus research in Japan

Uirusu. 2022;72(1):1-6. doi: 10.2222/jsv.72.1.ABSTRACTViral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola virus disease, Marburg disease, Lassa fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are infectious diseases that can cause severe, life-threatening illness. At present, there are only few licensed vaccines and antiviral drugs for these viral hemorrhagic fevers. The viruses which cause these viral hemorrhagic fevers are classified as BSL-4 pathogens and can be handled only in BSL-4 containment laboratories. Therefore, to develop the vaccines and treatments for these diseases, BSL-4 facility is essential. However, the BSL-4 facility available for the basic or applied research using infectious BSL-4 pathogens has not been established in Japan so far. In July 2021, the construction of BSL-4 facility was completed at the campus of Nagasaki University. After the preparation for the full operation, the facility will be approved by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare as a BSL-4 facility. Here, I introduce the BSL-4 facility project of Nagasaki University and state the contributions of the BSL-4 facility to research and development.PMID:37899225 | DOI:10.2222/jsv.72.1

Source: Uirusu. Journal of Virology - October 29, 2023 Category: Virology Authors: Jiro Yasuda Source Type: research