{"id":43,"date":"2025-05-23T17:30:36","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T08:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/?page_id=43"},"modified":"2025-10-03T11:42:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T02:42:35","slug":"bsl4_experiment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/bsl4_experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"BSL-4 facility"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u3000The National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases(CCPID) in Nagasaki University aims to contribute to the control of infectious diseases, which pose a major threat to humanity, through research and development. As the research conducted at our center focuses on viruses and other pathogens that are highly pathogenic to humans, we require an experimental facility that has multiple layers of containment measures not to let viruses leak. Viruses and other pathogens are classified into Biosafety Levels 1 to 4 (BSL-1 to 4) according to their pathogenicity. Our center conducts research on viruses and other pathogens up to BSL-4, which are the most highly pathogenic.
\u3000The experimental facility at our center is referred to as BSL-4 facility because it include a BSL-4 laboratory. The BSL-4 facility has a high level of containment performance, such as maintaining a lower air pressure inside the BSL-4 laboratory than in the surrounding area. In addition, researchers working in the BSL-4 laboratory wear enclosed suits called Positive Pressure Suits(PPS), which are the first of their kind in Japan.\uff08\u203b\uff09
\u3000On this page, we will explain the Biosafety Level (BSL), an overview of the BSL-4 facility, and an outline of the PPS worn when conducting experiments in BSL-4 facility.<\/p>\n

\uff08\u203b\uff09At present, the BSL-4 facility building is in the process of being prepared for full-scale operation, and experiments using BSL-4 pathogens have not yet begun.<\/p>\n

\u3000Overview of CCPID BSL-4 Facility\u3000<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Biosafety Levels
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\u30fbThe required biosafety level (BSL) for laboratories is determined by the risks associated with a target pathogen, such as transmissibility, pathogenicity and availability of vaccine and treatment.
\u30fb Biological containment measures, both tangible and intangible, must fulfill the BSL requirements.<\/span>
\u30fb BSL-4 lab oratories are designed for the maximum biological containment and security to facilitate research on high-risk pathogens.<\/span>
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Structure of CCPID BSL-4 facility<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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*1<\/span><\/strong> The BSL-4 laboratory is structurally isolated from the external environment and enclosed within a fully airtight chamber.
*2<\/span><\/strong> The laboratory is equipped with extensive HEPA filter units for both supply and exhaust air.
*3<\/span><\/strong> Wastewater from the laboratory is fully sterilized beneath the floor through autoclaving and chemical treatment.
*4<\/span><\/strong> The upper floors contain support facilities, such as HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) control systems, backup power supplies, chemical shower tanks, and clean air supply systems for PPS.
*5<\/span><\/strong> The building is constructed on a foundation with high-level earthquake resistance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Researchers must pass through several rooms to ensure their safety and security when entering and leaving the laboratory. Safety measures are taken to prevent both researchers and the environment from being exposed to pathogens.<\/p>\n\n\n

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*6 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers change from their personal clothes into dedicated laboratory clothing in the changing room.
*7 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers put on their PPS suits in the suit room, where clean air is supplied to the suits from an air tank located on the upper floor through connected air hoses.
<\/span><\/span>*8 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers enter the laboratory via the chemical shower room (note: chemical showers are not used upon entry).
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*9 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers exit the laboratory through the chemical shower room, where disinfectant is sprayed from nozzles on all sides for three minutes. This is followed by a warm-water shower for another three minutes to rinse off the disinfectant.
*10 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers remove their PPS in the suit room.<\/span>
*11 <\/span><\/strong>Researchers then take a shower to cleanse their bodies.
*12<\/span><\/strong> Finally, researchers change back into their personal clothes in the changing room.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u3000Positive Pressure Suits (PPS) in CCPID BSL-4 Laboratory\u3000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Overview of our PPS<\/strong><\/span>
\u30fbPPS is laboratory wear with an external air supply, suitable for maximum biosafety conditions.
\u30fbThe PPS physically protects laboratory workers from exposure to pathogens.
\u30fbThe inside of PPS maintains a higher pressure than the laboratory environment. This positive pressure protects workers from exposure to potentially contaminated air, even if the suit\u2019s integrity is compromised.
\u30fbWe developed the first domestic PPS for use in this BSL-4 laboratory, in collaboration with Shigematsu Works Co., Ltd, a Japanese manufacturer of safety protective equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u2460Air Supply Hose<\/strong><\/span>
Delivers clean air to workers from outside the laboratory.
\u2461Air Ventilation<\/strong><\/span>
Exhausts inner air without allowing backflow from the laboratory environment.
\u2462Face Shield<\/strong><\/span>
Protects workers from contaminated splashes while maintain clear visibility.
\u2783Airtight Zipper<\/strong><\/span>
Maintains the airtight seal of the suits.
\u2784Air valve<\/strong><\/span>
Regulates airflow from the air supply hose, ensuring proper suits pressure.
\u2785Suits filter<\/strong><\/span>
Ensures that the air supplied from the hose is contamination-free by a HEPA filter, even though the air is sourced from the outside of the laboratory.
\u2466Gloves<\/strong><\/span>
Attached at the cuff to maintain the suits integrity.
\u2787Boots<\/strong><\/span>
Bonded to the suits and designed to be slip-resistant.
\u2788Materials<\/strong><\/span>
Waterproof, tear-resistant, and chemical-resistant materials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u3010Specifications for Positive Pressure Suits(PPS)\u3011\uff08For size M\uff09
\u3000Target height\uff1a170cm - 176cm
\u3000PPS weight\uff1aAbout 7kg
\u3000Air pressure inside PPS\uff1a0.4 - 0.8MPa
\u3000Air supply volume to PPS\uff1a200 - 300L\/min
\u3000PPSs are available in sizes 3S to 2L.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u30fbMicrobiological samples and specimens are handled within Class II Biological Safety Cabinets, which protect workers from contaminated aerosols.
\u30fbWhen exiting the laboratory, workers undergo a chemical shower to decontaminate their suits and prevent any potential leakage of the pathogens from the laboratory environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u3000The National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases(CCPID) in Nagasaki University aims to contribute to the control of infectious diseases, which pose a major threat to humanity, through research and development. As the research conducted at our center focuses on viruses and other pathogens that are highly pathogenic to humans, we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":30,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-43","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":196,"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/43\/revisions\/196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ccpid.nagasaki-u.ac.jp\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}