18.mar.07
The Wichita Eagle (KS)
Phyllis Jacobs Griekspoor
MANHATTAN -- Pat Roberts Hall, home of the new $50-million Biosecurity Research Institute, is scheduled to open this month at Kansas State University, the only full-size, agricultural and food safety biosecurity laboratory in the world.
Researchers there, led by Randy Phebus -- a food microbiologist and professor of food safety and security at K-State -- will study pathogens considered possible terrorist weapons, including anthrax, and staphylococcus and botulinum toxins.
The laboratory has several unique features, among them a live animal holding area, a slaughter floor, meat processing equipment and the capability to bring in objects as large as an airplane cabin for contamination and de-contamination experiments.
Phebus and other researchers at K-State first proposed the center in 1999.
"We made a presentation to the Senate to make a case for why we needed a center like this," he said. "There was a lot of yawning that day by the panel of officials. Shortly after this testimony, a group of faculty and administrators began thinking about the need for a unique food safety and security research facility.
"Then came 9/11 and all of a sudden, there were a lot of people paying attention."
The new lab at K-State is Biosafety Level 3, the second-highest laboratory security level in the U.S. It is assigned to laboratories that use toxic agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of inhalation.
The highest level, Biosafety Level 4, is reserved for labs that handle the most dangerous agents, including fatal viruses without cures, such as ebola, and toxins for which there are no antidotes. These products will not be handled at K-State.
K-State's older food safety lab is a Level 2, which handles less dangerous agents and smaller amounts of contaminants.
"In the old lab, we might have a small vial of bacteria and be doing tests on small quantities of foods," Phebus said. "In here, we're talking about being able to spray the entire carcass of a cow with a pathogen such as anthrax or botulinum."
Much of the lab's work will be validating processes or technologies for the government, other research institutions or commercial food companies.
"We're going to be doing some testing for the Army on pathogens that potentially could contaminate our military food system, whether intentionally or non-intentionally, so that these agents can be rapidly and reliably detected in the field," Phebus said.
"The idea is to come with a test to find contaminants, validate its usefulness and, in some cases, develop decontamination processes."
Among the initial substances studied in the lab will be the anthrax bacteria, toxins produced by the staphylococcus bacteria and the potent nerve toxins produced by the botulinum bacteria.
Researchers will also conduct extensive tests of the avian influenza virus, he said.
The live animal holding area of the center can contain up to 32 head of cattle so tests can be conducted on live animals. There will be separate lines for processing hogs, goats and poultry.
A new level of security
Phebus will work in the largest of five laboratories in the institute.
He says the high-security environment is new to K-State researchers, and training and education to ensure the safety of those who work in the building is extensive.
One section of the building houses security, non-research offices and a public classroom used for training workers and for explaining the institute's work to visitors.
The entire lower level is devoted to equipment that sterilizes all the air and water that leaves the building.
"We have a HEPA air filtration system that every hour filters enough air to fill the area above the football field to 12 feet high," Phebus said.
The center is equipped with a network of cameras inside and out. There's a locked gate at the entrance to the parking lot, another one at the perimeter of the lawn and key-card security at every door. Researchers have restricted access to their own work areas, and no access to those of other researchers.