Laboratory facilities - Instalaciones de laboratorio


This section details our facility infrastructure and equipment.

Esta sección detalla la infraestructura y equipamiento de nuestro laboratorio.



Laboratory description

Work on version 2.0 of the Viral & Human Genomics Lab was initiated on Dec 2014 and completed by July 2015. The Viral and Human Genomics Lab is currently located on the first level of building D of UASLP's Faculty of Medicine. It occupies what used to be the Experimental Surgery lab and the forefront of what is stil the experimental animal housing facility.

The laboratory is distributed into seven different areas. Study room, main offices, main laboratory, RT-PCR area, Cell-biology área, Enhanced Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2+) biocontainment area and water/ice room.
By the end of 2016 our lab was upgraded to include an enhanced BSL2 area featuring new biosafety equipment, instruements and engineering features (see lab version 3.0 below).
By January 2020, our lab was further upgraded to version 4.0, incorporating new instruments, greater samples processing and storage capacity as well as new technology (see lab version 4.0 section below).

Students cubicle

A study area is provided for each student along with personal iMac equipped workstations and all office facilities. A kitchenette is also available to allow personnel to store and prepare lunch, coffee or tea.

Wet-bench work and wearing of lab-coats is not allowed in this area. Personal devices and laptops are similarly not allowed inside the lab. This ensures a safe work environment for both personnel and their next of kin.

Lab manager and principal investigator offices

Lab manager and principal investigator offices are located on site and inside the lab so as to ensure close work supervision and access control. Lab manager has unobstructed view of both access door and CCTV screen.

The principal investigator is always available on site or rreachable through a direct telephone hot-line. Biosafety and biosecurity guidelines require that both lab manager and principal investigator be on site during BSL3 work. Electronic access control measures are in effect 24/7.

Main lab

Main lab houses both pre-PCR and post-PCR areas, main chemical reagent storage, refrigerators and ultra-low freezers. This area is intended for biosafety level 2 (BSL2) work including DNA extractions, sample preparation, PCR setup, DNA amplification and electrophoretic analysis.

This área is backed by a utility room providing access to flaked ice, different types of laboratory grad water, liquid nitrogen storage, compressed gas cylinders and the elevator shaft.

Main lab pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

RT-PCR area

Physical segregation of molecular biology areas is important to provide protection from PCR-product contamination. Pre- and Post-PCR areas are separated in the main lab. Similarly, RT-PCR preparation area is physically separated from other areas of the lab to ensure further protection.


RT-PCR area pictures 1, 2,

Cell biology area

For work with bacterial and human cell cultures of low-biological risk, a physically segregated clean room equipped with a Type 2 Class 2 biological safety cabinet, cell counter, microscope, autoclave and bacteriological incubator is available.

This área is used solely for human sample processing (inactivation step), for DNA extractions, bacterial cloning and other procedures involving work with risk group 2 biological agents.

Cel biology area pictures 1, 2, 3,

Biocontainment area

Previous work with both blood-borne pathogens (such as HCV, HIV and HBV) and with respiratory pathogens (such as pandemic and seasonal influenzavirus) have been restricted to low-risk procedures given technical limitations having to do with available biosafety level engineering. Lab version 3.0 incorporates novel engineering controls which allow for work these and exotic viral pathogens with greater biosafety. These controls include epoxy coated walls, floors and ceilings, the use of a special air handling unit to provide directional airflow, HEPA filtration and negative pressure, the establishment of stricter access controls and adoption of novel biosafety protocols, guidelines, equipment and discipline throughout.

The Enhanced BSL2 area is composed of a main virology area separated from the outer main lab by three antechambers, 1) a clean vestibule, 2) a shower room and 3) a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donning room.

BSL-3 area pictures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Enhanced BSL2 upgrade (laboratory v3.0, 2016)

During 2015 our laboratory was awarded an infrastructure grant by the Mexican National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT “Apoyo complementario 2015 para infraestructura relacionada con seguridad, bioseguridad y certificación de laboratorios” grant number 264326) which allowed us to upgrade laboratory instrumentation, facility engineering and laboratory instruments and equipment. This upgrade has enabled us to pursue novel research interests such as work with wild bat and rodent viruses like rabies, hantavirus and cornavirus as well as with arthorpod-borne virus (arbovirus) such as Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. A main aspect of this upgrade revolved around providing biosafety and biosecurity for biospecimens and personnel. Some of these features are further explained below. As suggested by the CDC's manual on Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, facility design and construction (Secondary barriers) contribute to the protection of laboratory personnel to persons outside the laboratory, and to the community sorrounding the laboratory from accidental release of the agents being manipulated within. An important laboratory feature which is recommended for BSL2 laboratories and a requirement for BSL3 laboratories is electronic access control. At our lab, laboratory doors are self-closing and have electronic locks which restrict access to only authorized personnel.

Electronic access control measures (Spa, 13.5 Mb).
Intercom and CCTV instalation (Spa, 19.5 Mb).
Epoxy coatings (Spa, 14.5 Mb).
Autoclave, Biological Safety Cabinet and ABI7500 Real-time Thermal Cycler (Spa, 22.5 Mb).
Description of facility engineering features (Spa, 13.1 Mb).
Descrpition of utility line distribution (Spa, 4.6 Mb).
Description of the HEPA filtered Air Handling Unit (Spa, 132 Mb).

Infrastructure Upgrade (laboratory v4.0, 2019)

During 2019 our laboratory received a grant from the Mexican National Science and Technology Council (CONACYT "Apoyos para Adquisición y Mantenimiento de Infraestructura en Instituciones y Laboratorios de Investigación Especializada" Grant number 299608). The main objetive of this grant was to allow us to increase molecular processing and storage of samples through the acquisition of two new ultra-low freezers, four end-point thermal cyclers and a new nanodrop spectrophotometer; as well as to encourage work in new research interests and methods by providing novel onsite tools such as an epifluorescence microscope and portable real-time thermal cycler.
The following links provide access to the photodocuments describing the specifications of the instruments and equipment acquired as part of this grant. We encourage Mexican and international researchers to contact us to explore possible collaborations and access to these instruments.

AppliedBiosystems MiniAmp Plus end-point thermal cyclers (Eng, 1.3 Mb, YouTube Video).
Velab VE146YT Epifluorescence Microscope Assembly(Eng, 3.5 Mb,YouTube Video).
Velab VE146YT Epifluorescence Microscope (Eng, 3.5 Mb,YouTube Video).
Thermo Fisher NanoDrop One Spectrophotometer (Eng, 3.2 Mb,YouTube Video).
PrimerDesign Genesig Q16 Real-Time Portable Cycler (Eng, 1.0 Mb,YouTube Video).
Thermo Fisher Scientific 24 cf Revco Ultra Low Freezers (Eng, 2.6 Mb,YouTube Video).
Enhanced BSL2 area - Air Handling Unit (AHU) (Eng, 2.2 Mb).

Multimedia tour and resources

Take a virtual tour through our new (version 2.0, 2016) facilities

Alternatively, visit our YouTube Channel to get to know more about us, our work, our protocols and our research lab.


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