Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Quorum: Met
Call to Order: The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) Chair called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes from February 26, 2026, were approved as written.
Protocols Reviewed
Title: “Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Arbovirus Transmission in Vertebrate and Arthropod Hosts”
NIH Guidelines: III-D-2-a, III-F-8, and Appendices B-II-D, and C-II.
Meeting Comments: The research group intends to investigate the mechanisms that influence arbovirus transmission and host adaptation. The study will examine the relationship between viral genetic diversity and transmission efficiency, evaluate how genetically distinct viral populations modify the endosomal compartment of infected cells, and identify genomic adaptations that support viral survival in both vertebrate and arthropod hosts. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- Please update "closer" to “closely”.
- Please include WNV and BTV in your title and non-technical summary, and mention that the BTV is a non-exotic serotype.
- Please confirm that the strains of WNV that will be used in these experiments have never been used in a BSL-3 and there is no risk of contamination.
- Please update the answer for Vero cells to reflect “BSL-2”.
- Please note if LD50 values have been defined in any animal model systems for any of the specific strains of WNV listed.
Title: “Vaccines against Foot and Mouth Disease Virus”
NIH Guidelines: III-D-1-a, III-D-4 and Appendix G.
Meeting Comments: The research group aims to develop and evaluate genetically recoded picornavirus vaccine candidates using an FMDV replicon system, focusing on improved safety, stability, and translatability for use in livestock. This research will not use wild-type FMDV. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- Please check the human cell lines box.
- Please update title to reflect “Foot” rather than “Food”.
- Please update to reflect “Foot” rather than “Food”.
- Please update to reflect “Foot” rather than “Food”.
- As these viruses do not cause disease in humans this can be marked at RG1 only.
- Please update to reflect “Foot” rather than “Food”.
- Please provide a copy of the IBC approval letter from your collaborator’s study showing that the experiment was approved for BSL-2 containment.
Title: “Virus-Vector-Host interactions of Japanese encephalitis Virus SA14-14-2, West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis virus (BSL-2)”
NIH Guidelines: III-D-2-a, III-F-8, and Appendices C-I, and C-II.
Meeting Comments: This project aims to elucidate the biological pathways involving NTMTs in cancer using integrated chemical, biochemical, and genetic approaches, as well as to develop new therapeutic strategies targeting these enzymes for cancer treatment. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- Please include that the WNV and SLE strains are endemic to the USA.
- Please update the answer to “Sharps containers will be closed, surface decontaminated with a disinfectant such as Peroxigard and disposed of through KSU EHS.”
Title: “Study of protein N-terminal methyltransferases (NTMTs)”
NIH Guidelines: III-1-a, III-D-2-a, III-F-8, and Appendices C-I, and C-II.
Meeting Comments: This project aims to elucidate the biological pathways involving NTMTs in cancer using integrated chemical, biochemical, and genetic approaches, as well as to develop new therapeutic strategies targeting these enzymes for cancer treatment. The project does not meet DURC/P3CO criteria, and appropriate biosafety procedures and mitigation plans are in place.
- Please update to “Technical procedures for gene cloning and protein expression will follow the manufacturer’s protocols.”
- Please add Appendix C-II to the answer.
- Include the human cell lines being used.
- Update to reflect that human cell lines are potentially infectious and could contain bloodborne pathogens.
- Specify the routes of exposure that laboratory collaborators could encounter while working with human cell lines.
- Indicate that Hepatitis B vaccination is available due to the use of human materials and will be offered to the research team. If team members decline the vaccine, a declination form should be provided in section 60.190.
- Include the Bloodborne Pathogen SOP in the laboratory-specific biosafety manual.
Other Business: none
Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 a.m.