Enhanced Significance of Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity During COVID-19 Pandemic

Özet

Seven coronavirus species, including severe acute respiratorysyndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), cause respiratory diseasesin humans. Four of these species, namely, HCoV 229E,HCoV NL63, HCoV HKU1, and HCoV OC43, typically cause mildupper respiratory infection in babies, kids, and the elderly.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Middle Eastrespiratory syndrome coronavirus, and SARS-CoV-2 lead tomore serious diseases in humans by infecting the lower respiratorytract. Epidemic and pandemic situations are the consequencesof the rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and largenumber of deaths. Evaluations related to the recent COVID-19pandemic have revealed some requirements, which are notwell known but essential for fighting against this disease. Theserequirements include the obligation to work at laboratorieswith high biosafety level (BSL) and conduction of studies underthe guidance of biosafety and biosecurity simultaneously.Likewise, to overcome the hazardous microorganisms, laboratoryresearch is required alongside therapeutic and diagnosticservices in the field. This article aims to explain biosafety andbiosecurity practices at BSL-3 laboratories, which are necessaryfor the studies of SARS-CoV-2 as the causative agent ofCOVID-19.