Synchrotron-based multi-scale biological imaging inside biocontainment environments

The Orion project is designed to be a state-of-the-art research complex that studies dangerous pathogens, located at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), in Campinas, Brazil. Orion is set to host the first Latin America Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory, designed for maximum biological containment. This facility will be integrated with the Brazilian synchrotron light source, SIRIUS, and will also feature Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) and 3 (BSL-3) laboratories equipped for biological research, as well as an advanced electron microscopy facility. Orion's infrastructure is poised to significantly advance the understanding of pathogens and the diseases they cause while also contributing to public health surveillance and policy development. At the core of this effort are three synchrotron-based beamlines that will connect SIRIUS to Orion, enabling cutting-edge multi-scale biological imaging. These beamlines are strategically designed to provide different levels of field-of-view, penetration power and resolutions: (1) SIBIPIRUNA, dedicated to cryo-nanotomography using soft X-ray absorption contrast for cellular imaging; (2) TIMBÓ, mainly focused on cryo-nanotomography through coherent X-ray phase-contrast for tissue studies; and (3) HIBISCO, devoted to small living animal imaging using hard X-ray phase-contrast microtomography. This unique interplay between synchrotron-based imaging techniques within biocontainment areas will undoubtedly enhance pathogen research and bioimaging, driving scientific advancements with far-reaching implications for global health.