The BSL 2 laboratory is nearly 800 square feet and includes the necessary equipment to perform molecular and cellular assays and experiments for the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University and our collaborative partners. It is equipped with biological safety cabinets (BSCs) to provide primary containment for handling BSL 2 hazardous materials.

All personnel undergo comprehensive training in biosafety protocols and are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Our standard operating procedures (SOPs)and Biosafety manuals detail the safe handling and disposal of biological materials, ensuring the highest level of safety for everyone in the laboratory. Regular training sessions and proficiency assessments ensure that all personnel are equipped to handle hazardous materials safely and effectively.

The lab has an emergency response plan in place to address accidents, spills, or other unforeseen events.

Common Procedures

The molecular laboratory supports a wide range of scientific activities, including:

• Cell culturing:
• Molecular biology techniques such as PCR, quantitative PCR, nucleic acid extraction, and gel electrophoresis
• Studies involving pathogens appropriate for BSL-2 containment
• Protein visualization with protein gel and Western blot
• Nanoparticle analysis tracking

The ACL is designed for work involving arthropods. Arthropods may include but are not limited to biting midges and mosquitoes. All research must be KSU IBC-approved.

• ACL-1: Involves work with uninfected arthropod vectors or those infected with a nonpathogen.
• ACL -2: Involves arthropods infected with BSL 2 agents associated with animal and or human disease and non-native arthropods.

Common Procedures Conducted in ACL Laboratories:

• Arthropod Rearing: Rearing and maintaining arthropods for research purposes, such as studying insect behavior, developing control methods and insecticide resistance.
• Vector Competence Studies: Investigating the ability of arthropod vectors to transmit pathogens to humans or animals, crucial for understanding disease transmission dynamics.
• Electropenetrography (EPG): Observe, record, and quantify the feeding behaviors of arthropods whose mouthparts penetrate opaque host tissues, and therefore cannot be easily visualized in real time. Electrical signals can be correlated with specific behaviors allowing association of waveforms with activities like salivation or pathogen transmission, making it a great tool for understanding vector borne diseases in terms of feeding and pathogen transmission dynamics.