Understanding viruses, bacteria and other pathogens is essential to protecting public health from current and future pandemic threats. Researchers at Penn State are among the leading scientists, along with their peers from across the country, who are working in a highly secure facility to solve some of the most complex issues related to disease.
To learn more about how studying pathogens is vital for protecting the health of humans, animals and plants, we spoke with Beata Clapp, senior biosafety officer in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety. She explains how Penn State’s Pell Lab facilitates research that makes it possible to forecast the severity of potential disease outbreaks and inform the development of therapeutics and diagnostics.
To get us started, can you tell us what makes Pell Lab different from other labs at Penn State?
Clapp: Penn State, through the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, has one of the premier infectious disease research groups in the world. Like other BSL-3 labs across the nation, the Pell Lab was purposely designed to enable these experts to safely study pathogens, like SARS-CoV-2 and Zika virus, that may pose a serious risk to human health. BSLs, or biosafety levels, refer to the requirements, procedures and type of microbes that are allowed given the potential risks posed by the pathogens being studied.
Why is research on infectious pathogens so important?
Clapp: As the global population continues to grow, humans and livestock are living in closer proximity to wild animals, which raises the risk of zoonotic transmission of pathogens. In addition, the increasing density of human and livestock populations means that when outbreaks occur, they can spread rapidly. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the urgent need to prepare for these potential threats.
In the Pell Lab, our scientists are studying some of the most important pathogens that have the potential to affect human health, including avian influenza and Zika virus. They’re investigating the attributes that make these pathogens infectious and how they might evolve, which is necessary to monitor for threats in nature and to develop vaccines and therapeutics. Numerous pathogens are circulating in nature, and it’s only a matter of time before another one spills over into humans. We need to be ready.
Safety is always the primary focus in the Pell Lab, both for the public and for the scientists who work there, and our researchers follow all federally mandated safety precautions, as well as additional precautions that are often required by the University. Responsibly studying potentially dangerous viruses and other pathogens in the laboratory is the only safe way that scientists and public health authorities can monitor for pathogens of concern in Pennsylvania and beyond, as well as inform the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics in the event of a pathogen outbreak.
What pathogens are studied in the Pell Lab?
Clapp: Presently, researchers are studying highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which is a virus that primarily affects poultry and other birds, but in recent years has infected a variety of mammals, including humans. The team’s goal is to identify changes in the currently circulating viruses that could arise in the wild that could make these viruses more dangerous to humans with a goal of contributing to the prevention of future pandemics.
For example, another virus that is currently being investigated is Powassan virus, which is transmitted by ticks. Powassan virus can cause severe disease and sometimes death in humans. Although still rare, cases of this virus have increased in recent years. In previous years, researchers in the lab have also conducted studies on SARS-CoV-2, Mpox, West Nile virus, Zika virus, Bordetella and Francisella tularensis, among others. Our scientists are contributing to work being done in BSL-3 labs across the country to conduct research for the good and safety of humanity.
What are the lab’s safety features?
Clapp: The lab’s safety record is outstanding, and Penn State has several layers of oversight that meet or exceed regulations required by the federal government. The lab is a self-contained, standalone facility, which means that all materials, including waste products, are managed on site for increased safety. It has its own steam plant to generate energy, two sources of water and power, a backup generator, and a waste decontamination system. There are also redundant systems for both supply and exhaust air with inward directional airflow, meaning all the air flows from outside into the lab. All these features are to maximize safety by minimizing the likelihood of any hazardous biological materials leaving the laboratory.
Who monitors laboratory safety?
Clapp: We take very seriously the preparation for any potential incident through the development of rigorous scenario plans, extensive and ongoing training to lab scientists, and regular inspections by numerous governing bodies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the campus level, the laboratory has several layers of oversight. In addition to oversight by the laboratory director, the laboratory has a facility manager, scientific director, advisory board, and building users group that provide guidance and direction for the lab.
How are faculty and staff who work in the lab trained?
Clapp: Researchers working in the lab follow all safety protocols and procedures required by the federal government and the University to conduct research on pathogens, including meeting the rigorous federal safety requirements. They undergo rigorous training to meet these requirements, including in the use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, gowns, and personal respirators, and the procedures for handling biological and chemical materials.
What is your background and role at the lab?
Clapp: I joined Penn State as the senior biosafety officer in the Office of Environmental Health and Safety in 2021 and, along with my colleagues, am responsible for overseeing biological safety throughout all Penn State research, academic and service areas. The Pell Lab is just one aspect of that. I previously worked as the biosafety officer for the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, where I oversaw biosafety programs across high-containment laboratories, including a BSL-4 lab.