ZBS 5: Biosafety Level-4 Laboratory

Date: 29/01/2025

Leader:: Dr. Andreas Kurth
Deputy:: Frank Siejak

Tasks

Operating a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory within the Robert Koch Institute
Establishment of diagnostic methods and diagnostic of pathogens in biosafety level 4
Development of strategies for the prevention, decontamination and control of highly pathogenic viruses together with the ZBS 7 and ZBS 1
Participation in / Organisation of interlaboratory tests for quality assurance of diagnostics (national and international)

Research Group Risk Group 4 – Experimental Infection and Transmission

Head: Andreas Kurth

Elucidate mechanisms of virus pathogenesis and transmission in their reservoir species
Establishment of infection models

Research Group Risk Group 4 – Comparative Immunology

Head: Joseph Prescott

Research on the interaction between zoonotic hemorrhagic fever causing viruses and the immune system of their natural reservoirs
Examining the immune response to highly pathogenic viruses in animal models supporting human immune systems
Developing and characterizing the efficacy of therapeutics in animal models of hemorrhagic fevers

Research Group Risk Group 4 – Stability and Persistence

Head: Susann Kummer

Risk assessment of environmental stability by testing the influence of surface texture and carrier medium
Analysis of viral persistence and evaluation of decontamination procedures
Providing recommendations and guidelines for Biosafety Level-4 laboratories

Further information