The Laboratory for urgent response to biological threats, called in French Cellule d’Intervention Biologique d’Urgence (CIBU), was created at the end of 2002, under the impulse of the Directorate-General of Health, of the Minsitry in charge of Health, and the Director General of Institut Pasteur, to respond to “specialized biological urgencies”. These urgencies are dealt with in the event of epidemics, accidents, or terrorist attacks using biological weapons which can endanger public health.
CIBU is attached to the Research and Expertise Unit “Environment and Infectious Risks” (ERI) in the same manner as a National Reference Center would be. Since 2013, CIBU is divided into 3 major poles (Bacteriology -PIB, Virology -PIV and Pathogen genotyping -PGP). CIBU intervenes 24/7 in the detection of a wide array of pathogens in particular the following microbiological agents:
- Bacteria: agents of botulism, anthrax, plague, tularemia, glanders, melioidosis, etc…
- Viruses: Detection of class 4 agents by molecular biology without virus amplifications in cell culture: Ebola and Marburg, Crimea Congo, Lassa and Nipah viruses. Detection of influenza A(H5N1) and (H7N9) viruses, the SARS-CoV, the new MERS-CoV and orthopoxviruses.
- An array of other microbial agents are also detected and identified by CIBU in no emergency situations.
Besides CIBU’s intervention and microbiological identification activities, the Unit develops research projects in direct connection with CIBU’s core missions.
Dedicated website : http://www.pasteur.fr/cibu
