As part of the PRP@CERIC project, a new laboratory operating at Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) containment is being established and will be equipped with the necessary instrumentation for conducting screenings of anti-microbial molecules with medium/high throughput. This laboratory will incorporate instruments integrated into an automated platform, facilitating operator-independent screening activities while minimizing operator exposure. Strict safety measures will be put in place, and containment within a BioBubble hood will ensure operator and sample protection.
The HTS-BSL3 facility at ICGEB will offer a fully integrated service for hazardous pathogen research: it will be equipped with a collaborative robotic arm for transporting multi-well plates, a multimodal plate reader, an automatic incubator with temperature and CO2 control and a random-access plate shelf, ensuring seamless integration and efficient operation. The plate washer and dispenser, together with the liquid handling system, will enable efficient handling of liquids with precise volume control, allowing for customizable plate configurations and dispensing of up to four different solutions simultaneously, thus ensuring accurate sample processing and minimizing contamination risks. The automation software will enable offline instrument use, process execution control, simulation, real-time monitoring and error notification.
The facility will be equipped with advanced analytical instrumentation: the multimodal plate reader is in fact capable of various measurements including UV/VIS absorbance, fluorescence intensity, luminescence (glow and flash), Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay (ALPHA), Time-resolved fluorescence (TRF), Time-resolved fluorescence Energy transfer (TRF-FRET), and Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET).
This state-of-the-art facility will offer a comprehensive platform for high-throughput screening of potential drug candidates, antimicrobial agents, and other bioactive molecules, facilitating efficient and reliable drug discovery and research endeavors in a controlled biosafety environment.
The pathogen research platform is equipped with a high containment Biosafety level 3 Laboratory (BSL-3), which is a highly secure facility designed for the safe handling of pathogens that pose significant health risks. The laboratory features strict safety measures, specialised equipment, and trained personnel to prevent accidental exposure and protect public safety.
This facility is fully equipped for the isolation of highly infectious pathogens to study their replication, pathogenicity and transmission features. The inclusion of a high-content fully automated imaging platform allows functional screenings and drug discovery directly with the pathogen of interest. The platform is also equipped for the handling of in vivo models of infection for research and pre-clinical studies.
📍 The “BSL-3 user facility” is located at ICGEB laboratories in Area Science Park.