Experiments to genetically engineer plants by rDNA/sNA methods may require registration with the APB (BL2-P or higher, see OBA – NIH Guidelines and Appendix C for additional information). To prevent release of transgenic plant materials to the environment, the guidelines provide specific plant biosafety containment recommendations for experiments involving the creation and/or use of genetically engineered plants. (Figure 3)

Plant Biosafety levels are categorized into BL1-P to BL4-P (Table 4).

Table 3. Viral vectors and transgene containment.

Gene transfer vectora Host rangeb Insert or gene functionc Laboratory containment leveld
MMLV based –
gag, pol, and env deleted		 Ecotropic
Amphotropic, VSV-G
pseudotyped		 S, E, M, G, CC, T, MP, DR, R, TX,
Ov, Oc
S, E, M, MP, DR, T, G
Ov, Oc, R, CC
TX		 BSL – 1*
BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
Herpesvirus based –
nonlytic		 Broad host range  S, E, M, MP, DR, T, G
Ov, Oc, R, CC
TX		 BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
Lentivirus based –
HIV, SIV, EIAV, FIV, etc.; gag, pol, env, nef, and vpr deleted		 Ecotropic, amphotropic, VSV-G pseudotyped  S, E, M, MP, DR, T, G
Ov, Oc, R, CC
TX		 BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
Adenovirus based –
serotypes 2, 5 and 7; E1 and E3 or E4 deleted		 Broad host range, infective for many cell types S, E, M, T, MP, DR, R, G, CC
Ov, Oc
TX		 BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
Alphavirus based –
SFV, SIN		 Broad host range S, E, M, T, MP, DR, R, G, CC
Ov, Oc
TX		 BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
Baculovirus based Broad mammalian host cell range S, E, M, T, MP, DR, R, G, CC
Ov, Oc
TX		 BSL – 1*
BSL2
BSL – 2+/BSL – 3
AAV based –
rep, cap defective		 Broad host range; infective for many cell types, including neurons S, E, M, T, MP, DR, G
Ov, Oc, R, CC
TX		 BSL – 1*
BSL2
BSL – 2+/BSL – 3
Poxvirus based –
canarypox, Vacciniae		 Broad host range S, E, M, T, DR, MP, CC, R, G
Ov, Oc
TX		 BSL – 2
BSL2+
BSL – 3
*EIA—Exotic Infectious Agent
**BL4-P containment is recommended only for experiments with readily transmissible exotic infectious agents whether transgenic or not, such as air-borne fungi or viruses in the presence of their arthropod vectors that have the potential of being serious pathogens of major US crops.

Table 4. Plant biosafety levels.

From Practical Guide to Containment: Plant Biosafety in Research Greenhouses, Revised Edition, page 13, D. Adair and R. Irwin.

Criteria Transgenic Plants Transgenic Microbes: Exotic Transgenic Microbes: Non-Exotic Transgenic Insects/Animals/Assoc. Microbes
Not a noxious weed or cannot outcross with one BL1-P
Not easily disseminated BL1-P
No detriment to environment BL2-P or BL1-P+ BL1-P BL2-P or BL1-P+
Noxious weed or can interbreed with weeds BL2-P or BL1-P+
Contains complete genome of non-EIA* BL2-P or BL1-P+
Contains genome of EIA BL3-P or BL2-P+
Treated with an EIA BL3-P or BL2-P+
Detriment to environment BL3-P-4** BL2-P or BL1-P+ BL3-P or BL2-P+
Involves EIA with detriment to environment BL3-P or BL2-P+
May reconstitute genome of infectious agent in plants BL3-P or BL2-P+
Contains Vertebrate Toxin BL3-P BL3-P BL3-P
*EIA—Exotic Infectious Agent
**BL4-P containment is recommended only for experiments with readily transmissible exotic infectious agents whether transgenic or not, such as air-borne fungi or viruses in the presence of their arthropod vectors that have the potential of being serious pathogens of major US crops.

 

Important Information

Plant Research Permits

Additional permits might be required from state and federal agencies before research with plants can be done. Contact Biosafety for information.