Surface and Air Sampling Validation for Milling of BSL-2 Bacillus Anthracis Simulant Spores
Abstract
Biosafety level (BSL) 1 spore-forming bacteria, such as Bacillus atrophaeus var. globigii, have been traditionally used as surrogate organisms for B. anthracis (Ba). There is an increased interest in using the attenuated strain(s) of Ba. The large-scale production of these attenuated strains raises a number of safety concerns about the possible aerosolization and particulate generation of micron-range-sized spores during the drying and milling processes. In this effort, a milling system was placed within a Plexiglas enclosure, and a milling operation was conducted using BSL-1 barcoded B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk) to determine whether the engineering controls of the system and the operating procedures would be sufficient to prevent any spillage from BSL-2 materials. To evaluate the integrity of the mill and the enclosure, air and surface samples were tested to learn whether background and BSL-1 Btk barcoded spores could be detected before and during milling operations performed within a dedicated clean-room enclosure. After comparing the similar physical properties of BSL-1 barcoded Btk dried spores and BSL-2 spores, we determined that the milling of Ba Sterne/ Delta Sterne spores under identical engineering controls would not require additional containment measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1063613
Entities
People
- Frank Iii J. Kragl
- Michael H. Kim
- Stacey M. Broomall