title: ABSL-4 aerobiology biosafety and technology at the NIH/NIAID integrated research facility at Fort Detrick.
abstract: The overall threat of a viral pathogen to human populations is largely determined by the modus operandi and velocity of the pathogen that is transmitted among humans. Microorganisms that can spread by aerosol are considered a more challenging enemy than those that require direct body-to-body contact for transmission, due to the potential for infection of numerous people rather than a single individual. Additionally, disease containment is much more difficult to achieve for aerosolized viral pathogens than for pathogens that spread solely via direct person-to-person contact. Thus, aerobiology has become an increasingly necessary component for studying viral pathogens that are naturally or intentionally transmitted by aerosol. The goal of studying aerosol viral pathogens is to improve public health preparedness and medical countermeasure development. Here, we provide a brief overview of the animal biosafety level 4 Aerobiology Core at the NIH/NIAID Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. matthew.lackemeyer@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lackemeyer
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. fabiandekok@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fabian de
authors.initials: Fd
authors.lastname: Kok-Mercado
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. wadaj@niaid.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. bollingerl@niaid.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bollinger
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. kindrachuk.kenneth@nih.gov.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kindrachuk
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. Victoria.Jensen@nbacc.dhs.gov.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wahl-Jensen
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. kuhnjens@niaid.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Jens H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. jahrlingp@niaid.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Jahrling
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D003264:Containment of Biohazards / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008396:Maryland; D054579:National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.); D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D014481:United States; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols