Implementation of level-2 biosafety for a macromolecular crystallography beamline at SSRF.

Abstract

Macromolecular crystallography is commonly used to determine the structure of biological macromolecules. Currently the beamlines at synchrotron radiation facilities play an important role in macromolecular crystallography, and have produced an enormous number of molecular structures to help solve scientific questions and support applications. Structure information makes significant contributions to the virus-related research as well. However, it is mandatory to be protected the operators under a compatible biosafety infrastructure when a pathological agent is set up in a beamline. Here a level-2 biosafety protection for a macromolecular crystallography beamline at Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) is introduced. To fulfill the biosafety in a radioactive environment, a dedicated design is implemented. Since the beamline will be opened to the external users from nationwide research units, the management process and experimental method are also drawn up.