Virus and Vector Standards

Additional Information for Research Involving Viruses or Vectors

Genetic manipulations that have the potential to increase pathogenicity may raise the recommended BSL, and may also require review by the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NexTRAC). Below are the Acceptable Standards for the University of Pittsburgh as recommended by the IBC:

TYPE OF VIRUS OR VECTOR RECOMMENDED BSL STRAIN EXAMPLE
Murine Retrovirus, ecotropic 1 or 1+ MMLV, MSCV
Murine Retrovirus, amphotropic or VSV-G pseudotyped  1+, 2 or 2+ MMLV, MSCV
Non-primate Lentiviruses 2 or 2+ FIV, BIV, EIAV
Primate Lentiviruses 1, 2, or 2+ HIV, SIV, SHIV
Adenoviruses 2 or 2+ Adv, all types
Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) 1, 2, or 2+ AAV
Gene editing technologies  1, 2, or 2+ CRISPR/Cas9, TALEN, ZFN
Zika Virus Information  2 ZIKV

*Note: Some HIV-1 based lentiviral vector systems may be safely used under lower containment (BSL-2 or ABSL-1)

For additional information contact the Institutional Biosafety Division at ibo@pitt.edu.

Page updated 12 April 2021; several broken links fixed