BSL-3 Laboratories

The Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility has a floor area of 240 m2 and consists of six research laboratories and laboratory infrastructure rooms. The BSL-3 facility has state-of-the-art equipment for cell culture, fluorescence microscopy and high-content live cell imaging.

Four different groups are currently working in the BSL-3 laboratory with the risk group 3 microorganisms Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium ulcerans and Trypanosoma cruzi. 

Our main activities include:

  • The study of the impact of drug resistance on the physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
  • The use of an ex vivo granuloma model to study the pathology of Mtb
  • The management and maintenance of a collection of more than 4000 Mtb isolates distributed globally,
  • Drug screening for Chagas disease
  • Development of diagnostics and vaccines for Buruli ulcer
Researcher in BSL-3 laboratory (Photo: J. Pelikan/Swiss TPH)
A researcher introduces M. tuberculosis cells into liquid media in a BSL-3 laboratory.
Researcher working in a BSL-3 laboratory wearing personal protective equipment. (Photo: J. Pelikan/Swiss TPH)
Researcher working in a BSL-3 laboratory wearing personal protective equipment, including a powered air-purifying respirator.