COMMENT ABOUT HANDLING SAMPLES:
Samra:
I agree. This Website is a positive development..
Sorry for delay. Still setting up. HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING...
We have converted an unused negative pressure suite containing 100% externally vented BSC cabinets to handle research samples for limited number of studies. We are using protective gowning, double gloves, face shields and facemarks. Samples are being handled by a trained virologist or myself. These are focussed on determining optimal method to decontaminate PPE that are "contaminated" with a specific dose of virus. Our plan is to inoculate Vero cells with samples from the contaminated masks subjected to VHP, UV, ethanol, drying, etc. We will then watch for CPE. We then plan to send some of the "positive" samples to a BSL3 lab to process. I believe that this follows the..
Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Summary of Recent Changes
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/lab-biosafety-guidelines.html
At this time my lab is not performing Virus isolation in cell culture or initial characterization of viral agents recovered in cultures of SARS-CoV-2 specimens.
These procedures are recommended to be performed in a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory.
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Bernard Fox PhD
Harder Family Chair for Cancer Research
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute
Portland OR
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-23-2020 16:26
From: Samra Turajlic
Subject: About the COVID-19 Basic and Translational Research Forum
Dear Bernie,
This is a fantastic initiative. On a very practical level can anyone comment on the environment in which they are dealing with the samples form those with suspected or confirmed infection- from collection, processing and storage. In the UK there is government guidance on clinical/diagnostic setting but not research labs and I am keen to understand your practice?
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Samra Turajlic PhD, MRCP
Clinician Scientist
The Francis Crick Institute
Original Message:
Sent: 03-21-2020 20:37
From: Bernard Fox
Subject: About the COVID-19 Basic and Translational Research Forum
Thank you SITC for setting this up. I believe that a number of our members, like myself, have started to research COVID-19. Much of what cancer immunologists have learned investigating the immune response to cancer immunity can be applied to evaluating immunity to 2019-nCoV. As SITC has always served as conveners of investigators across disciplines to discuss cancer immunotherapy, now it provides an opportunity for the global community to gather and bolster our virology colleagues in the battle the world is waging against this disease. Expect the topics to include genomics/epigenetics, engineering of neutralizing antibodies, single cell analyses, effects of costimulation, checkpoint blockade, and vaccine strategies, as well as cytokine support and blockade strategies- to name a few. I am certain that there is much we can learn from each other that will help us understand this and other related infectious diseases. I look forward to participating in this forum and to learning from others who are thinking about and performing research in this area.
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Bernard Fox PhD
Harder Family Chair for Cancer Research
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Providence Cancer Institute
Portland OR
Original Message:
Sent: 03-20-2020 17:25
From: SITC Education
Subject: About the COVID-19 Basic and Translational Research Forum
Purpose: Conversations directly relevant to research
Audience: Laboratory and translational scientists
Suggested topics: Data sharing, emerging literature, sample/tissue collection, model/reagent development, opportunities for collaboration, translational insights, research hypotheses