Containment Level (CL) 3 laboratories and CL2/3 insectaries

The CL3 laboratories allow for the study of high consequence hazard group (HG) 3 human or Specified Animal Pathogens Order (SAPO) 3 animal pathogens using in vitro and in vivo experimental models (e.g., mosquitoes, ticks, mice & hamsters) and can accommodate work on clinical samples known or suspected to contain HG2 or HG3 pathogens. These facilities contribute to the overall capacity of the CVR to conduct high containment work with multiple virus orders/families, with an agile structure that can respond rapidly if required. The CVR is now poised to expand the footprint of its containment facilities to conduct larger scale studies using small animal models to examine viral pathogenesis, transmission, anti-viral compounds and vaccine efficacy. Moreover, it will repurpose its capacity for storing clinical samples to create an outbreak laboratory that will primarily support the aims of the CVR Preparedness platform. The CL3 platform also underpins the work of the CRUSH screening hub, facilitating a plethora of translational projects involving HG3 or SAPO 3 pathogens. The CL2 and CL3 insectaries provide the capacity to breed mosquitoes and ticks (arthropod vectors) and infect them with HG2 (e.g., Zika virus) or HG3 (e.g., dengue virus) arboviruses. These state-of-the-art facilities are among the best in Europe, and integral to supporting both MRC core- and externally funded research programmes ranging from arthropod physiology (e.g., trade-offs between mosquito physiology and arbovirus infection), the biology of endosymbiosis and commensal pathogens (e.g., Wolbachia), interactions between ticks and tick-borne viruses, development of transgenic mosquitoes, and assessment of mosquito-borne disease risk in Scotland.