About Pre conference course F - How to contain insects: challenges to be overcome when working with invasive species, genetically modified insects and on pathogen-vector interactions

Instructors
Ruth Müller and Tania Persampieri

Course description
After presenting the major risks encountered when working with insects that may carry pathogens or parasites, the course will address the characteristics of laboratories dedicated to their containment (ACL1-3). In addition to the structural elements of these specialized laboratories, the course will also describe best practices and appropriate protective equipment to use. The presentation will be completed by a visit to an ACL. Participants will also be involved in an interactive exercise (carried out in groups of 3-4 participants) of risk assessment for the proposed study cases.

At the end of the training, participants should be able to:

• identify the specific risks linked to the intentional use of insect bearing various pathogenic organisms
• understand the rationale of laboratory good practices in an Arthropod Contained Laboratory (ACL), including the selection of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• understand the components of ACL2 and ACL3
• carry out a risk assessment and define the major mitigation measures to apply in a given situation (group work on case studies)

CWA 16335:2011, annex C

• C.2.1.2.1 Biological and other hazards in the work area
• C.2.1.2.4 Containment principles
• C.2.1.2.5 Biorisk assessment and management
• C.2.2.5 (Specialist Training Specifications) Working with arthropods