Animal Biosafety Level Reclassification for Rodents Exposed to Viral Vectors

Find out how principal investigators can request an animal biosafety level reclassification for work involving rodents exposed to viral vectors.

Purpose

Principal investigators (PIs) authorized to work with viral vectors in rodents at animal biosafety level 2 (ABSL-2) can request reclassification to ABSL-1 when certain criteria are met. Advantages of ABSL-1 classification include improved access to experimental rooms and reduced animal housing costs.

72 hours after exposure to viral vectors, rodents can be housed at ABSL-1 when approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC).

Background

Genetic engineering has made viral vectors safer by designing them to be replication defective outside of specialized packaging cell lines. This greatly limits the possibility of generating replication competent virus which poses a higher risk of infection.

Replication defective viral vectors are handled at BSL-2 in the laboratory because of their potential to enter human cells, deliver genetic material, and elicit an immune response. Viral vectors in this category include adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and various retroviruses.

Administration of viral vectors in animals likewise must be performed in an ABSL-2 facility. Data has shown that shedding (excretion) of virus particles significantly decreases after 72 hours, post inoculation.

There is no sentinel testing in most of UCSD's ABSL-2 facilities. Therefore, rodents currently housed in most ABSL-2 facilities may not be transferred, for animal health reasons, to standard ABSL-1 housing.

However, 4 specialized ABSL-2 facilities do have sentinel testing. With approval from the IBC, animals housed in these facilities may be transferred to an ABSL-1 facility if the animals do not pose a biological hazard.

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Criteria

Criteria for reclassification includes:

1. The animal must be handled using ABSL-2 practices and equipment in one of these facilities:
   
   

   Facility	Room	Function	Contact phone
   Moores Cancer Center (map)	B021	Procedures Housing	(858) 534-2310
   Clinical Teaching Facility, Hillcrest (map)	A057	Procedures and housing Note: A057 may be used for viral vectors only if not in use by others.	(619) 543-6709
   Biomedical Sciences Building (map)	B127 B123	Procedures Housing	(858) 534-5772
   Leichtag Building (map)	B32	Procedures Note: All standard animal rooms are available for housing.	(858) 822-2770

   
   
2. The viral vectors must be listed on the PI's Biohazardous Use Authorization (BUA) as used in animals and approved by the IBC as replication defective. Examples of viral vectors approved by the IBC for this policy include:
   • Adenovirus
   • Adeno-associated virus
   • HIV-based vector with self-activating genome
   
   
3. Reclassification to ABSL-1 facilities begins at least 72 hours after initial contact between the viral vector and the experimental rodent.

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How to request reclassification

• PI's who already have an approved BUA to work with viral vectors:
  • E-mail your request to EH&S Biosafety
    Include this information:
    • PI name
    • BUA number
    • Name of viral vector
• PI's who do not have an approved BUA to work with viral vectors:
  • Read Apply for and Manage a Biohazard Use Authorization (BUA) to learn how to apply for a BUA, or amend a BUA application.

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Safety

Biosafety

• About the Biosafety Program
• Resources
• Animal Biosafety Level Reclassification
• Biohazard Use Authorization
• Autoclave Overview
• Biosafety Cabinet Overview
• Biosafety Level Practices Chart
• Bloodborne Pathogens Program
• Decontamination Methods
• Forms
• Select Agents
• High-Risk Biological Agents Requirement