State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR

{{Infobox government agency

|agency_name = State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR of Rospotrebnadzor

|logo = File:Вектор (научный центр).png

|logo_width =

|logo_caption =

|seal =

|seal_width =

|seal_caption =

|formed = {{start date and age|1974}}

|preceding1 =

|preceding2 =

|preceding3 =

|preceding4 =

|preceding5 =

|preceding6 =

|dissolved =

|superseding =

|jurisdiction = Government of the Russian Federation

|headquarters = Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia

|coordinates = {{coord|54|56|17|N|83|13|35.92|E|display=title,inline}}

|employees = 1,614

|budget =

|minister1_name =

|minister1_pfo =

|minister2_name =

|minister2_pfo =

|chief1_name =

|chief1_position =

|chief2_name =

|chief2_position =

|parent_agency = Rospotrebnadzor

|website = {{OfficialURL}}

|parent_department=

}}

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR of Rospotrebnadzor ({{langx|ru|Государственный научный центр вирусологии и биотехнологии «Вектор» Роспотребнадзора|Gosudarstvennyy nauchnyy tsentr virusologii i biotekhnologii "Vektor" Rospotrebnadzora}}), also known as the Vector Institute, is a biological research center under Rospotrebnadzor in Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia. It has research facilities and capabilities for all levels of biological hazard, CDC levels 1–4. It is one of two official repositories for the now-eradicated smallpox virus,{{efn|The other repository is the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia.}} and was part of the system of laboratories known as the Biopreparat.

The facility was upgraded and secured using modern cameras, motion sensors, fences and biohazard containment systems. Its relative seclusion makes security an easier task. Since its inception there has been an army regiment guarding the facility.{{cite journal |title=Vector Institute in Novosibirsk, Siberia: Where Russia stores its smallpox |journal=Slate |date=July 15, 2014 |url=https://slate.com/technology/2014/07/vector-institute-in-novosibirsk-siberia-where-russia-stores-its-smallpox.html |accessdate=March 17, 2020 |last1=Simone |first1=Alina }}{{cite journal|last1=Nellis|first1=Kathy|title=Smallpox Eradication Memories and Milestones|journal=The Global Health Chronicles|date=October 26, 2007|url=http://globalhealthchronicles.org/items/show/3022|accessdate=June 28, 2014}}

At least in Soviet times the facility was a nexus for biological warfare research (see Soviet biological weapons program), though the nature of any ongoing research in this area is uncertain.

As of April 2022 the Vector Institute is the Russian site for the WHO H5 Reference Laboratory Network, which responds "to the public health needs arising from avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans and influenza pandemic preparedness."{{cite news |title=WHO H5 Reference Laboratories |url=https://www.who.int/initiatives/global-influenza-surveillance-and-response-system/h5-reference-laboratories |publisher=World Health Organization |date=n.d.}}

History

Organized in 1974, the center has a long history of virology, making impressive Soviet contribution to smallpox research.{{cite journal |title=Is Siberia a Safe Place for Smallpox? |journal=Slate |date=July 15, 2014 |url=https://slate.com/technology/2014/07/vector-institute-in-novosibirsk-siberia-where-russia-stores-its-smallpox.html |accessdate=March 17, 2020 |last1=Simone |first1=Alina }} Genetic engineering projects included creation of viruses that manufacture toxins as well as research on bioregulators and various peptides that function in the nervous system.United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities. (11 October 2013). Biodefense: Worldwide Threats and Countermeasure Efforts for the Department of Defense : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, Hearing Held October 11, 2013. p. 34. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CkeQTGkF5MIC&q=biodefense+nuclear+weapons Google Books website] Retrieved 13 April 2020. In the post-Soviet times the center made research and development contributions in many projects like a vaccine for Hepatitis A, influenza vaccines, vaccines for the Ebola virus,{{cite web |title=Coronavirus updates |website= The Hindu |date= March 17, 2020 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-live-updates-march-17-2020/article31088570.ece |accessdate=March 17, 2020}} antiviral drugs with nucleotide analogs,{{cite web |title=State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR / Institute of Molecular Biology |url=http://www.istc.int/en/institute/10152 |accessdate=March 17, 2020}} test-systems for diagnostics of HIV and Hepatitis B and other development.{{cite web |title=About The Center |url=http://www.vector.nsc.ru/o-gnts-vb-vektor/ |accessdate=March 17, 2020}} It is one of the two laboratories worldwide that are authorized to keep smallpox.{{cite web |title=Smallpox > Bioterrorism |url=https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/bioterrorism/public/threat.html |website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=21 May 2022 |date=19 December 2016 |quote=Today, there are only two labs in the world that are approved to have the smallpox virus for research: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and the Russian State Centre for Research on Virology and Biotechnology in the Russian Federation.}}

=COVID-19 vaccine development=

In March 2020 it was reported that Russian scientists have begun to test vaccine prototypes for the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with the plan of presenting the most effective one in June, a laboratory chief at Vector Institute said. The prototypes have been created and the testing on animals began.{{cite web |title=Russia to test coronavirus vaccine prototype on animals |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/2020-03-17-russia-to-test-coronavirus-vaccine-prototype-on-animals/ |accessdate=March 17, 2020 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424045133/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/world/2020-03-17-russia-to-test-coronavirus-vaccine-prototype-on-animals/ |url-status=dead }}

In July 2020, research by the centre found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 can be killed in room temperature water within 72 hours, helping further research about the disease during the pandemic.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-01|title=Scientists figure out a weakness of coronavirus: Ordinary water|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/world/scientists-figure-out-a-weakness-of-coronavirus-ordinary-water-11596276025946.html|access-date=2020-09-23|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Water at boiling temperature can completely destroy novel coronavirus, say Russian scientists|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/water-at-boiling-temperature-can-completely-destroy-novel-coronavirus-say-russian-scientists/630030|access-date=2020-09-23|website=www.timesnownews.com|date=July 31, 2020 |language=en}}

Tasks

The main tasks of the centre, according to VECTOR, are:{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Basic research of causative agents of especially dangerous and socially important viral infections, and their genetic variability and diversity, pathogenesis of viral infections.
Ensuring constant readiness for implementing diagnostics of especially dangerous infectious agents.
The development and introduction into healthy practice of diagnostic curative and preventive medicines.
Post-graduate training, and scientific training of higher qualification in the field of Virology, molecular biology and biotechnology through graduate school and higher education.

Accidents

On 30 April 1988, a doctor died two weeks after accidentally pricking himself through two layers of rubber gloves with a needle contaminated with the Marburg virus.{{cite news |last1=Preston |first1=Richard |title=THE BIOWEAPONEERS |work=pp. 52-65 |publisher=The New Yorker |date=9 March 1998}}

In 2004, a researcher at VECTOR died after accidentally pricking herself with a needle contaminated with the Ebola virus.{{cite news | first=Judith | last=Miller | date=May 25, 2004 | title=Russian Scientist Dies in Ebola Accident at Former Weapons Lab | work=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/25/world/russian-scientist-dies-in-ebola-accident-at-former-weapons-lab.html | access-date=2020-07-10}}

On 17 September 2019, a gas explosion occurred at Vector.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-27|title=What happened after an explosion at a Russian disease research lab called VECTOR?|url=https://thebulletin.org/2019/11/what-happened-after-an-explosion-at-a-russian-disease-research-lab-called-vector/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|language=en-US}} One worker suffered third-degree burns, and the blast blew out window panes. The lab has highly contagious forms of bird flu and strains of hepatitis.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/17/blast-sparks-fire-at-russian-laboratory-housing-smallpox-virus | title=Blast sparks fire at Russian laboratory housing smallpox virus | work=The Guardian | date=September 17, 2019 | access-date=2020-07-10 }} The explosion happened in a decontamination room that was being renovated by a contractor.{{cite news | title=What happened after an explosion at a Russian disease research lab called VECTOR? | work=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists | first=Filippa | last=Lentzos | date=November 27, 2019 | url=https://thebulletin.org/2019/11/what-happened-after-an-explosion-at-a-russian-disease-research-lab-called-vector/ | access-date=2020-07-10 }}

Notes

Citations

External links

[http://www.vector.nsc.ru/ State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR homepage] {{in lang|en|ru}}
[http://www.vector.nsc.ru/o-gnts-vb-vektor/ About the center] {{in lang|ru}}
[http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/russia/vector.htm NPO Vector] at Globalsecurity.org

Category: 1974 establishments in the Soviet Union

Category: Biological warfare facilities

Category: Biosafety level 4 laboratories

Category:COVID-19 vaccine producers

Category: Medical research institutes in the Soviet Union

Category: National public health agencies

Category: Research institutes established in 1974

Category: Soviet biological weapons program