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Rehm C, Kolm C, Pleininger S, Heger F, Indra A, Reischer GH, Farnleitner AAH, Kirschner AKT. Vibrio cholerae-An emerging pathogen in Austrian bathing waters? Wien Klin Wochenschr 2023; 135:597-608. [PMID: 37530997 PMCID: PMC10651712 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-023-02241-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae, an important human pathogen, is naturally occurring in specific aquatic ecosystems. With very few exceptions, only the cholera-toxigenic strains belonging to the serogroups O1 and O139 are responsible for severe cholera outbreaks with epidemic or pandemic potential. All other nontoxigenic, non-O1/non-O139 V. cholerae (NTVC) strains may cause various other diseases, such as mild to severe infections of the ears, of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts as well as wound and bloodstream infections. Older, immunocompromised people and patients with specific preconditions have an elevated risk. In recent years, worldwide reports demonstrated that NTVC infections are on the rise, caused amongst others by elevated water temperatures due to global warming.The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge gained during the past two decades on V. cholerae infections and its occurrence in bathing waters in Austria, with a special focus on the lake Neusiedler See. We investigated whether NTVC infections have increased and which specific environmental conditions favor the occurrence of NTVC. We present an overview of state of the art methods that are currently available for clinical and environmental diagnostics. A preliminary public health risk assessment concerning NTVC infections related to the Neusiedler See was established. In order to raise awareness of healthcare professionals for NTVC infections, typical symptoms, possible treatment options and the antibiotic resistance status of Austrian NTVC isolates are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Rehm
- Division Water Quality and Health, Karl-Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health
| | - Claudia Kolm
- Division Water Quality and Health, Karl-Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health
- Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Pleininger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Reference Centre for Vibrio cholerae, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Heger
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Reference Centre for Vibrio cholerae, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Indra
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, National Reference Centre for Vibrio cholerae, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
- Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health
- Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas A H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Karl-Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health
- Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Karl-Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria.
- Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, .
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Gourmelon
- IFREMER, ODE-DYNECO-Pelagos, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Pélagique, Plouzané, France
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Department Genetics, Microbiology, and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental, and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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3
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Linke RB, Zeki S, Mayer R, Keiblinger K, Savio D, Kirschner AKT, Reischer GH, Mach RL, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH. Identifying Inorganic Turbidity in Water Samples as Potential Loss Factor During Nucleic Acid Extraction: Implications for Molecular Fecal Pollution Diagnostics and Source Tracking. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:660566. [PMID: 34745021 PMCID: PMC8565874 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.660566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic methods are increasingly applied for food and environmental analysis. Since several steps are involved in sample processing which can affect the outcome (e.g., adhesion of DNA to the sample matrix, inefficient precipitation of DNA, pipetting errors and (partial) loss of the DNA pellet during DNA isolation), quality control is essential at all processing levels. In soil microbiology, particular attention has been paid to the inorganic component of the sample matrix affecting DNA extractability. In water quality testing, however, this aspect has mostly been neglected so far, although it is conceivable that these mechanisms have a similar impact. The present study was therefore dedicated to investigate possible matrix effects on results of water quality analysis. Field testing in an aquatic environment with pronounced chemo-physical gradients [total suspended solids (TSS), inorganic turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC), and conductivity] indicated a negative association between DNA extractability (using a standard phenol/chloroform extraction procedure) and turbidity (spearman ρ = −0.72, p < 0.001, n = 21). Further detailed laboratory experiments on sediment suspensions confirmed the hypothesis of inorganic turbidity being the main driver for reduced DNA extractability. The observed effects, as known from soil samples, were also indicated to result from competitive effects for free charges on clay minerals, leading to adsorption of DNA to these inorganic particles. A protocol modification by supplementing the extraction buffer with salmon sperm DNA, to coat charged surfaces prior to cell lysis, was then applied on environmental water samples and compared to the standard protocol. At sites characterized by high inorganic turbidity, DNA extractability was significantly improved or made possible in the first place by applying the adapted protocol. This became apparent from intestinal enterococci and microbial source tracking (MST)-marker levels measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) (100 to 10,000-fold median increase in target concentrations). The present study emphasizes the need to consider inorganic turbidity as a potential loss factor in DNA extraction from water-matrices. Negligence of these effects can lead to a massive bias, by up to several orders of magnitude, in the results of molecular MST and fecal pollution diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita B Linke
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sibel Zeki
- Department of Marine Environment, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - René Mayer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Keiblinger
- Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Soil Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Domenico Savio
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Research Area Molecular Diagnostics, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Unit of Water Microbiology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
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4
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Youngblut ND, Reischer GH, Dauser S, Maisch S, Walzer C, Stalder G, Farnleitner AH, Ley RE. Vertebrate host phylogeny influences gut archaeal diversity. Nat Microbiol 2021; 6:1443-1454. [PMID: 34702978 PMCID: PMC8556154 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-00980-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Commonly used 16S rRNA gene primers do not detect the full range of archaeal diversity present in the vertebrate gut. As a result, several questions regarding the archaeal component of the gut microbiota remain, including which Archaea are host-associated, the specificities of such associations and the major factors influencing archaeal diversity. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with primers that specifically target Archaea, we obtained sufficient sequence data from 185 gastrointestinal samples collected from 110 vertebrate species that span five taxonomic classes (Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia and Actinopterygii), of which the majority were wild. We provide evidence for previously undescribed Archaea-host associations, including Bathyarchaeia and Methanothermobacter, the latter of which was prevalent among Aves and relatively abundant in species with higher body temperatures, although this association could not be decoupled from host phylogeny. Host phylogeny explained archaeal diversity more strongly than diet, while specific taxa were associated with both factors, and cophylogeny was significant and strongest for mammalian herbivores. Methanobacteria was the only class predicted to be present in the last common ancestors of mammals and all host species. Further analysis indicated that Archaea-Bacteria interactions have a limited effect on archaeal diversity. These findings expand our current understanding of Archaea-vertebrate associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Youngblut
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Silke Dauser
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sophie Maisch
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chris Walzer
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA.,Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gabrielle Stalder
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Vienna, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria.,Research Division Water Quality and Health, Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124 Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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5
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Kolm C, Cervenka I, Aschl UJ, Baumann N, Jakwerth S, Krska R, Mach RL, Sommer R, DeRosa MC, Kirschner AKT, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. DNA aptamers against bacterial cells can be efficiently selected by a SELEX process using state-of-the art qPCR and ultra-deep sequencing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20917. [PMID: 33262379 PMCID: PMC7708460 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77221-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA aptamers generated by cell-SELEX against bacterial cells have gained increased interest as novel and cost-effective affinity reagents for cell labelling, imaging and biosensing. Here we describe the selection and identification of DNA aptamers for bacterial cells using a combined approach based on cell-SELEX, state-of-the-art applications of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatic data analysis. This approach is demonstrated on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), which served as target in eleven rounds of cell-SELEX with multiple subtractive counter-selections against non-target species. During the selection, we applied qPCR-based analyses to evaluate the ssDNA pool size and remelting curve analysis of qPCR amplicons to monitor changes in pool diversity and sequence enrichment. Based on NGS-derived data, we identified 16 aptamer candidates. Among these, aptamer EF508 exhibited high binding affinity to E. faecalis cells (KD-value: 37 nM) and successfully discriminated E. faecalis from 20 different Enterococcus and non-Enterococcus spp. Our results demonstrate that this combined approach enabled the rapid and efficient identification of an aptamer with both high affinity and high specificity. Furthermore, the applied monitoring and assessment techniques provide insight into the selection process and can be highly useful to study and improve experimental cell-SELEX designs to increase selection efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kolm
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabella Cervenka
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich J Aschl
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Niklas Baumann
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria.,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Jakwerth
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Department IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln, Austria.,School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Group Synthetic Biology and Molecular Biotechnology (166-5-1), Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria C DeRosa
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Department Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Department Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria.,Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics (166-5-3), Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Tulln, Austria. .,ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, Vienna, Austria. .,Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics (166-5-3), Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.
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6
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Frick C, Vierheilig J, Nadiotis-Tsaka T, Ixenmaier S, Linke R, Reischer GH, Komma J, Kirschner AKT, Mach RL, Savio D, Seidl D, Blaschke AP, Sommer R, Derx J, Farnleitner AH. Elucidating fecal pollution patterns in alluvial water resources by linking standard fecal indicator bacteria to river connectivity and genetic microbial source tracking. Water Res 2020; 184:116132. [PMID: 32777635 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A novel concept for fecal pollution analysis was applied at alluvial water resources to substantially extend the information provided by fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB data were linked to river connectivity and genetic microbial source tracking (MST). The concept was demonstrated at the Danube River and its associated backwater area downstream of the city of Vienna, using a comprehensive 3-year data set (10 selected sites, n = 317 samples). Enumeration of Escherichia coli (ISO 16649-2), intestinal enterococci (ISO 7899-2) and Clostridium perfringens (ISO 14189) revealed a patchy distribution for the investigation area. Based on these parameters alone a clear interpretation of the observed fecal contamination patterns was not possible. Comparison of FIB concentrations to river connectivity allowed defining sites with dominating versus rare fecal pollution influence from the River Danube. A strong connectivity gradient at the selected backwater sites became obvious by 2D hydrodynamic surface water modeling, ranging from 278 days (25%) down to 5 days (<1%) of hydraulic connectivity to the River Danube within the 3-year study period. Human sewage pollution could be identified as the dominating fecal source at the highly connected sites by adding information from MST analysis. In contrast, animal fecal pollution proofed to be dominating in areas with low river connectivity. The selection of genetic MST markers was focusing on potentially important pollution sources in the backwater area, using human (BacHum, HF183II), ruminant (BacR) and pig (Pig2Bac) -associated quantitative PCR assays. The presented approach is assumed to be useful to characterize alluvial water resources for water safety management throughout the globe, by allocating fecal pollution to autochthonous, allochthonous, human or animal contamination components. The established river connectivity metric is not limited to bacterial fecal pollution, but can be applied to any type of chemical and microbiological contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Frick
- Municipal Department 39, Rinnböckstraße 15/2, 1110, Vienna, Austria; Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julia Vierheilig
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria.
| | | | - Simone Ixenmaier
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rita Linke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Jürgen Komma
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Unit of Water Microbiology, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Domenico Savio
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Dagmar Seidl
- Municipal Department 39, Rinnböckstraße 15/2, 1110, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Unit of Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Julia Derx
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, TU Wien, Gumpendorfer Straße 1A/166, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
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Youngblut ND, Reischer GH, Walters W, Schuster N, Walzer C, Stalder G, Ley RE, Farnleitner AH. Host diet and evolutionary history explain different aspects of gut microbiome diversity among vertebrate clades. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2200. [PMID: 31097702 PMCID: PMC6522487 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10191-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple factors modulate microbial community assembly in the vertebrate gut, though studies disagree as to their relative contribution. One cause may be a reliance on captive animals, which can have very different gut microbiomes compared to their wild counterparts. To resolve this disagreement, we analyze a new, large, and highly diverse animal distal gut 16 S rRNA microbiome dataset, which comprises 80% wild animals and includes members of Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, and Actinopterygii. We decouple the effects of host evolutionary history and diet on gut microbiome diversity and show that each factor modulates different aspects of diversity. Moreover, we resolve particular microbial taxa associated with host phylogeny or diet and show that Mammalia have a stronger signal of cophylogeny. Finally, we find that environmental filtering and microbe-microbe interactions differ among host clades. These findings provide a robust assessment of the processes driving microbial community assembly in the vertebrate intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Youngblut
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max Planck Ring 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - William Walters
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max Planck Ring 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nathalie Schuster
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Walzer
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Austria
| | - Gabrielle Stalder
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Austria
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Max Planck Ring 5, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, 1060, Vienna, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, 1160, Vienna, Austria
- Research Division Water Quality and Health, Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, 3500, Krems an der Donau, Austria
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8
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Martzy R, Kolm C, Krska R, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. Challenges and perspectives in the application of isothermal DNA amplification methods for food and water analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem 2019; 411:1695-1702. [PMID: 30617408 PMCID: PMC6453865 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-018-1553-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Molecular diagnostic tools in the field of food and water quality analysis are becoming increasingly widespread. Usually, based on DNA amplification techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), these methods are highly sensitive and versatile but require well-equipped laboratories and trained personnel. To reduce analysis time and avoid expensive equipment, isothermal DNA amplification methods for detecting various target organisms have been developed. However, to make molecular diagnostics suitable for low-resource settings and in-field applications, it is crucial to continuously adapt the working steps associated with DNA amplification, namely sample preparation, DNA extraction, and visualization of the results. Many novel approaches have been evaluated in recent years to tackle these challenges, e.g., the use of ionic liquids for the rapid isolation of nucleic acids from organisms relevant for food and water analysis or the integration of entire analytical workflows on microfluidic chips. In any event, the future of applications in the field of isothermal amplification will probably lie in ready-to-use cartridges combined with affordable handheld devices for on-site analysis. This trend article aims to make prospective users more familiar with this technology and its potential for moving molecular diagnostics from the laboratory to the field. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Martzy
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), 3430, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Kolm
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), 3430, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430, Tulln, Austria
- Queen's University Belfast, Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT71NN, UK
| | - Robert L Mach
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Synthetic Biology and Molecular Biotechnology, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, 3500, Krems, Austria
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, 1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), 3430, Tulln, Austria.
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Area Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, 1060, Vienna, Austria.
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9
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Savio D, Stadler P, Reischer GH, Demeter K, Linke RB, Blaschke AP, Mach RL, Kirschner AKT, Stadler H, Farnleitner AH. Spring Water of an Alpine Karst Aquifer Is Dominated by a Taxonomically Stable but Discharge-Responsive Bacterial Community. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:28. [PMID: 30828319 PMCID: PMC6385617 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpine karst aquifers are important groundwater resources for the provision of drinking water all around the world. Yet, due to difficult accessibility and long-standing methodological limitations, the microbiology of these systems has long been understudied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the structure and dynamics of bacterial communities in spring water of an alpine limestone karst aquifer (LKAS2) under different hydrological conditions (base vs. event flow). The study was based on high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, study design and sample selection were guided by hydrology and pollution microbiology data. Spanning more than 27 months, our analyses revealed a taxonomically highly stable bacterial community, comprising high proportions of yet uncultivated bacteria in the suspended bacterial community fraction. Only the three candidate phyla Parcubacteria (OD1), Gracilibacteria (GN02), Doudnabacteria (SM2F11) together with Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes contributed between 70.0 and 88.4% of total reads throughout the investigation period. A core-community of 300 OTUs consistently contributed between 37.6 and 56.3% of total reads, further supporting the hypothesis of a high temporal stability in the bacterial community in the spring water. Nonetheless, a detectable response in the bacterial community structure of the spring water was discernible during a high-discharge event. Sequence reads affiliated to the class Flavobacteriia clearly increased from a mean proportion of 2.3% during baseflow to a maximum of 12.7% during the early phase of the studied high-discharge event, suggesting direct impacts from changing hydrological conditions on the bacterial community structure in the spring water. This was further supported by an increase in species richness (Chao1) at higher discharge. The combination of these observations allowed the identification and characterization of three different discharge classes (Q1-Q3). In conclusion, we found a taxonomically stable bacterial community prevailing in spring waters from an alpine karst aquifer over the entire study period of more than 2 years. Clear response to changing discharge conditions could be detected for particular bacterial groups, whereas the most responsive group - bacteria affiliated to the class of Flavobacteriia - might harbor potential as a valuable natural indicator of "system disturbances" in karst aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria.,Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Stadler
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Research Unit for Water Quality Management, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Molecular Diagnostics Group, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, TU Wien, Tulln an der Donau, Austria.,Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Centre for Water Resource Systems, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria.,Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rita B Linke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Division of Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hermann Stadler
- Department for Water Resources Management and Environmental Analytics, Institute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems an der Donau, Austria.,Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna, Austria.,Research Group for Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Kolm C, Martzy R, Führer M, Mach RL, Krska R, Baumgartner S, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. Detection of a microbial source tracking marker by isothermal helicase-dependent amplification and a nucleic acid lateral-flow strip test. Sci Rep 2019; 9:393. [PMID: 30674936 PMCID: PMC6344534 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36749-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, various PCR-based methods have been proposed that can identify sources of faecal pollution in environmental waters. These microbial source tracking (MST) methods are powerful tools to manage water quality and support public health risk assessment. However, their application is limited by the lack of specialized equipment and trained personnel in laboratories performing microbiological water quality assessment. Here, we describe a novel molecular method that combines helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) with a strip test for detecting ruminant faecal pollution sources. Unlike quantitative PCR (qPCR), the developed HDA-strip assay only requires a heating block to amplify the ruminant-associated Bacteroidetes 16S rRNA marker (BacR). Following HDA, the reaction mixture can be directly applied onto the test strip, which detects and displays the amplification products by marker-specific hybridization probes via an on-strip colorimetric reaction. The entire assay takes two hours and demands no extensive practical training. Furthermore, the BacR HDA-strip assay achieved comparable results in head-to-head performance tests with the qPCR reference, in which we investigated source-sensitivity and source-specificity, the analytical limit of detection, and the sample limit of detection. Although this approach only yields qualitative results, it can pave a way for future simple-to-use MST screening tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kolm
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Roland Martzy
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manuela Führer
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group Synthetic Biology and Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
- Queen's University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Sabine Baumgartner
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Tulln, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Krems, Austria
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria.
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Division Biochemical Technology, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria.
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11
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Mayer R, Reischer GH, Ixenmaier SK, Derx J, Blaschke AP, Ebdon JE, Linke R, Egle L, Ahmed W, Blanch AR, Byamukama D, Savill M, Mushi D, Cristóbal HA, Edge TA, Schade MA, Aslan A, Brooks YM, Sommer R, Masago Y, Sato MI, Taylor HD, Rose JB, Wuertz S, Shanks OC, Piringer H, Mach RL, Savio D, Zessner M, Farnleitner AH. Global Distribution of Human-Associated Fecal Genetic Markers in Reference Samples from Six Continents. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:5076-5084. [PMID: 29570973 PMCID: PMC5932593 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous bacterial genetic markers are available for the molecular detection of human sources of fecal pollution in environmental waters. However, widespread application is hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding geographical stability, limiting implementation to a small number of well-characterized regions. This study investigates the geographic distribution of five human-associated genetic markers (HF183/BFDrev, HF183/BacR287, BacHum-UCD, BacH, and Lachno2) in municipal wastewaters (raw and treated) from 29 urban and rural wastewater treatment plants (750-4 400 000 population equivalents) from 13 countries spanning six continents. In addition, genetic markers were tested against 280 human and nonhuman fecal samples from domesticated, agricultural and wild animal sources. Findings revealed that all genetic markers are present in consistently high concentrations in raw (median log10 7.2-8.0 marker equivalents (ME) 100 mL-1) and biologically treated wastewater samples (median log10 4.6-6.0 ME 100 mL-1) regardless of location and population. The false positive rates of the various markers in nonhuman fecal samples ranged from 5% to 47%. Results suggest that several genetic markers have considerable potential for measuring human-associated contamination in polluted environmental waters. This will be helpful in water quality monitoring, pollution modeling and health risk assessment (as demonstrated by QMRAcatch) to guide target-oriented water safety management across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- René
E. Mayer
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Molecular
Diagnostics Group, IFA-Tulln, Institute
of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Simone K. Ixenmaier
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Derx
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Hydraulic
Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred Paul Blaschke
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Hydraulic
Engineering and Water Resources Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - James E. Ebdon
- Environment
& Public Health Research and Enterprise Group, School of Environment
and Technology, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ Brighton, U.K.
| | - Rita Linke
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Egle
- Institute for Water Quality
and Resource Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO
Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Anicet R. Blanch
- Department
of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Denis Byamukama
- Department
of Biochemistry, Makerere University, P.O. Box 27755 Kampala, Uganda
| | - Marion Savill
- Affordable Water Limited, 1011 Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Douglas Mushi
- Department
of Biosciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, PO BOX 3038, Morogoro, Tanzania
| | - Héctor A. Cristóbal
- Laboratorio
de Aguas y Suelos, Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria
Química (INIQUI), Consejo Nacional
de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and Universidad
Nacional de Salta, CP 4400 Salta, Argentina
| | - Thomas A. Edge
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, L7S 1A1, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Asli Aslan
- Department
of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, 30460 Georgia, United States
| | - Yolanda M. Brooks
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University East Lansing, 48824 Michigan, United States
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Institute
for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Yoshifumi Masago
- New
Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku
University, 980-8579 Sendai, Japan
| | - Maria I. Sato
- Departamento
de Análises Ambientais, CETESB -
Cia. Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo, 05459-900 São
Paulo, Brasil
| | - Huw D. Taylor
- Environment
& Public Health Research and Enterprise Group, School of Environment
and Technology, University of Brighton, BN2 4GJ Brighton, U.K.
| | - Joan B. Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University East Lansing, 48824 Michigan, United States
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre
for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering and
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 637551 Singapore
| | - Orin C. Shanks
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office
of Research and Development, 45268 Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | | | - Robert L. Mach
- Research Division Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Matthias Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality
and Resource Management, TU Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Research
Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular
Diagnostics 166-5-3, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
and Bioscience Engineering, TU Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
- Phone: +43 664 605882244; e-mail:
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12
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Savio D, Stadler P, Reischer GH, Kirschner AK, Demeter K, Linke R, Blaschke AP, Sommer R, Szewzyk U, Wilhartitz IC, Mach RL, Stadler H, Farnleitner AH. Opening the black box of spring water microbiology from alpine karst aquifers to support proactive drinking water resource management. WIREs Water 2018; 5:e1282. [PMID: 29780584 PMCID: PMC5947618 DOI: 10.1002/wat2.1282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, pioneering interdisciplinary research has been performed on the microbiology of hydrogeologically well-defined alpine karst springs located in the Northern Calcareous Alps (NCA) of Austria. This article gives an overview on these activities and links them to other relevant research. Results from the NCA springs and comparable sites revealed that spring water harbors abundant natural microbial communities even in aquifers with high water residence times and the absence of immediate surface influence. Apparently, hydrogeology has a strong impact on the concentration and size of the observed microbes, and total cell counts (TCC) were suggested as a useful means for spring type classification. Measurement of microbial activities at the NCA springs revealed extremely low microbial growth rates in the base flow component of the studied spring waters and indicated the importance of biofilm-associated microbial activities in sediments and on rock surfaces. Based on genetic analysis, the autochthonous microbial endokarst community (AMEC) versus transient microbial endokarst community (TMEC) concept was proposed for the NCA springs, and further details within this overview article are given to prompt its future evaluation. In this regard, it is well known that during high-discharge situations, surface-associated microbes and nutrients such as from soil habitats or human settlements-potentially containing fecal-associated pathogens as the most critical water-quality hazard-may be rapidly flushed into vulnerable karst aquifers. In this context, a framework for the comprehensive analysis of microbial pollution has been proposed for the NCA springs to support the sustainable management of drinking water safety in accordance with recent World Health Organization guidelines. Near-real-time online water quality monitoring, microbial source tracking (MST) and MST-guided quantitative microbial-risk assessment (QMRA) are examples of the proposed analytical tools. In this context, this overview article also provides a short introduction to recently emerging methodologies in microbiological diagnostics to support reading for the practitioner. Finally, the article highlights future research and development needs. This article is categorized under: 1Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation2Science of Water > Water Extremes3Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Savio
- Division Water Quality and HealthDepartment Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health SciencesKrems a. d. DonauAustria
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Philipp Stadler
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Institute for Water Quality, Resource and Waste ManagementTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
| | - Alexander K.T. Kirschner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Unit Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Katalin Demeter
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Rita Linke
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
| | - Alfred P. Blaschke
- Centre for Water Resource SystemsTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources ManagementTechnische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
- Unit Water Hygiene, Institute for Hygiene and Applied ImmunologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Ulrich Szewzyk
- Department of Environmental TechnologyTechnical University of BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Inés C. Wilhartitz
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyEawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and TechnologyDübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Robert L. Mach
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
| | - Hermann Stadler
- Department for Water Resources Management and Environmental AnalyticsInstitute for Water, Energy and Sustainability, Joanneum Research, GrazAustria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and HealthDepartment Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health SciencesKrems a. d. DonauAustria
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics166/5/3, Technische Universität WienViennaAustria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at
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13
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Kirschner AKT, Reischer GH, Jakwerth S, Savio D, Ixenmaier S, Toth E, Sommer R, Mach RL, Linke R, Eiler A, Kolarevic S, Farnleitner AH. Multiparametric monitoring of microbial faecal pollution reveals the dominance of human contamination along the whole Danube River. Water Res 2017; 124:543-555. [PMID: 28806705 PMCID: PMC5718294 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The microbial faecal pollution of rivers has wide-ranging impacts on a variety of human activities that rely on appropriate river water quality. Thus, detailed knowledge of the extent and origin of microbial faecal pollution is crucial for watershed management activities to maintain safe water use. In this study, the microbial faecal pollution levels were monitored by standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) along a 2580 km stretch of the Danube, the world's most international river, as well as the Danube's most important tributaries. To track the origin of faecal pollution, host-associated Bacteroidetes genetic faecal marker qPCR assays for different host groups were applied in concert with SFIB. The spatial resolution analysis was followed by a time resolution analysis of faecal pollution patterns over 1 year at three selected sites. In this way, a comprehensive faecal pollution map of the total length of the Danube was created, combining substantiated information on both the extent and origin of microbial faecal pollution. Within the environmental data matrix for the river, microbial faecal pollution constituted an independent component and did not cluster with any other measured environmental parameters. Generally, midstream samples representatively depicted the microbial pollution levels at the respective river sites. However, at a few, somewhat unexpected sites, high pollution levels occurred in the lateral zones of the river while the midstream zone had good water quality. Human faecal pollution was demonstrated as the primary pollution source along the whole river, while animal faecal pollution was of minor importance. This study demonstrates that the application of host-associated genetic microbial source tracking markers in concert with the traditional concept of microbial faecal pollution monitoring based on SFIB significantly enhances the knowledge of the extent and origin of microbial faecal pollution patterns in large rivers. It constitutes a powerful tool to guide target-oriented water quality management in large river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K T Kirschner
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1).
| | - G H Reischer
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1); Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Jakwerth
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1)
| | - D Savio
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1); Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Ixenmaier
- Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - E Toth
- Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Pázmány Postny 1/c, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - R Sommer
- Medical University of Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1)
| | - R L Mach
- Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - R Linke
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1); Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - A Eiler
- eDNA Solutions Ltd, Björkåsgatan 16, 43131 Mölndal, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Medicinaregatan 9C, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden
| | - S Kolarevic
- University of Belgrade, Chair of Microbiology, Studentski trg 16, SRB-11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A H Farnleitner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water & Health, Austria(1); Technische Universität Wien, Institute for Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstrasse 1A, A-1060 Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria.
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14
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Martzy R, Kolm C, Brunner K, Mach RL, Krska R, Šinkovec H, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of Enterococcus spp. in water. Water Res 2017; 122:62-69. [PMID: 28591662 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Faecal pollution of water and the resulting potential presence of human enteric pathogens is a predominant threat to public health. Microbiological water quality can be assessed by the detection of standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) such as E. coli or certain Enterococcus species. In recent years, isothermal amplification methods have become a useful alternative to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowing molecular diagnostics with simple or no instrumentation. In this study, a novel screening method for the molecular detection of Enterococcus spp. by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is described. A set of six specific LAMP primers was designed to amplify a diagnostic fragment of the Enterococcus 23S rRNA gene, which is present in several enterococcal species targeted by quantitative PCR (qPCR), which is the standard technique recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Sensitivity and specificity tests were performed using a set of 30 Enterococcus and non-target bacterial reference strains. It is shown that LAMP is equally sensitive and even more specific than the qPCR assay. A dilution series of Enterococcus faecalis DNA revealed that the LAMP method can reliably detect 130 DNA target copies per reaction within 45 min. Additionally, enterococci isolated from Austrian surface waterbodies, as well as a set of DNA extracts from environmental waters, were tested. Contingency analysis demonstrated a highly significant correlation between the results of the developed LAMP assay and the reference qPCR method. Furthermore, a simple staining procedure with a fluorescence dye demonstrated the identification of amplified products by eye. In conclusion, this method is an important component for the efficient screening and testing of water samples in low-resource settings lacking sophisticated laboratory equipment and highly trained personnel, requiring only a simple heating block.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Martzy
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Claudia Kolm
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Kurt Brunner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Hana Šinkovec
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Clinical Biometrics, Spitalgasse 23, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Unit Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, A-3500, Krems, Austria; ICC Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria(1)
| | - Georg H Reischer
- TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, A-3430, Tulln, Austria; TU Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060, Vienna, Austria.
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15
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Kolm C, Martzy R, Brunner K, Mach RL, Krska R, Heinze G, Sommer R, Reischer GH, Farnleitner AH. A Complementary Isothermal Amplification Method to the U.S. EPA Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for the Detection of Enterococci in Environmental Waters. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:7028-7035. [PMID: 28541661 PMCID: PMC5573901 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We report a novel molecular assay, based on helicase-dependent amplification (HDA), for the detection of enterococci as markers for fecal pollution in water. This isothermal assay targets the same Enterococcus 23S rRNA gene region as the existing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Methods 1611 and 1609 but can be entirely performed on a simple heating block. The developed Enterococcus HDA assay successfully discriminated 15 enterococcal from 15 non-enterococcal reference strains and reliably detected 48 environmental isolates of enterococci. The limit of detection was 25 target copies per reaction, only 3 times higher than that of qPCR. The applicability of the assay was tested on 30 environmental water sample DNA extracts, simulating a gradient of fecal pollution. Despite the isothermal nature of the reaction, the HDA results were consistent with those of the qPCR reference. Given this performance, we conclude that the developed Enterococcus HDA assay has great potential as a qualitative molecular screening method for resource-limited settings when combined with compatible up- and downstream processes. This amplification strategy can pave the way for developing a new generation of rapid, low-cost, and field-deployable molecular diagnostic tools for water quality monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kolm
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Roland Martzy
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Kurt Brunner
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Robert L. Mach
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Rudolf Krska
- University
of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department IFA-Tulln, Center for Analytical Chemistry, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Georg Heinze
- Medical
University Vienna, Center for Medical Statistics,
Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Section for Clinical Biometrics, Spitalgasse 23, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Regina Sommer
- Medical
University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene
and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Molecular Diagnostics Group, Department
IFA-Tulln, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße
20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- TU
Wien, Institute of Chemical, Environmental
& Biological Engineering, Research Group of Environmental Microbiology
and Molecular Diagnostics 166/5/4, Gumpendorferstraße 1a, 1060 Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner
University of Health Sciences, Research Unit Water Quality and Health, Dr.-Karl-Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500 Krems, Austria
- ICC
Interuniversity
Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (ICC Interuniversity
Cooperation Center Water & Health, Vienna, Austria (www.waterandhealth.at)
- Telephone: +43-664-605882244. E-mail:
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16
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Mayer RE, Bofill-Mas S, Egle L, Reischer GH, Schade M, Fernandez-Cassi X, Fuchs W, Mach RL, Lindner G, Kirschner A, Gaisbauer M, Piringer H, Blaschke AP, Girones R, Zessner M, Sommer R, Farnleitner AH. Occurrence of human-associated Bacteroidetes genetic source tracking markers in raw and treated wastewater of municipal and domestic origin and comparison to standard and alternative indicators of faecal pollution. Water Res 2016; 90:265-276. [PMID: 26745175 PMCID: PMC4884448 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 12/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This was a detailed investigation of the seasonal occurrence, dynamics, removal and resistance of human-associated genetic Bacteroidetes faecal markers (GeBaM) compared with ISO-based standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB), human-specific viral faecal markers and one human-associated Bacteroidetes phage in raw and treated wastewater of municipal and domestic origin. Characteristics of the selected activated sludge wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) from Austria and Germany were studied in detail (WWTPs, n = 13, connected populations from 3 to 49000 individuals), supported by volume-proportional automated 24-h sampling and chemical water quality analysis. GeBaM were consistently detected in high concentrations in raw (median log10 8.6 marker equivalents (ME) 100 ml(-1)) and biologically treated wastewater samples (median log10 6.2-6.5 ME 100 ml(-1)), irrespective of plant size, type and time of the season (n = 53-65). GeBaM, Escherichia coli, and enterococci concentrations revealed the same range of statistical variability for raw (multiplicative standard deviations s* = 2.3-3.0) and treated wastewater (s* = 3.7-4.5), with increased variability after treatment. Clostridium perfringens spores revealed the lowest variability for raw wastewater (s* = 1.5). In raw wastewater correlations among microbiological parameters were only detectable between GeBaM, C. perfringens and JC polyomaviruses. Statistical associations amongst microbial parameters increased during wastewater treatment. Two plants with advanced treatment were also investigated, revealing a minimum log10 5.0 (10th percentile) reduction of GeBaM in the activated sludge membrane bioreactor, but no reduction of the genetic markers during UV irradiation (254 nm). This study highlights the potential of human-associated GeBaM to complement wastewater impact monitoring based on the determination of SFIB. In addition, human-specific JC polyomaviruses and adenoviruses seem to be a valuable support if highly specific markers are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Mayer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - S Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - L Egle
- Institute for Water Quality Resources and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040, Vienna, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - G H Reischer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - M Schade
- Bavarian Environment Agency, Bürgermeister-Ulrich-Straße 160, 86179, Augsburg, Germany
| | - X Fernandez-Cassi
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - W Fuchs
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology at IFA, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - R L Mach
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
| | - G Lindner
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Kirschner
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Gaisbauer
- Schreiber-AWATEC Umwelttechnik GmbH, Bergmillergasse 3/1, 1140, Vienna, Austria
| | - H Piringer
- VRVis Research Center, Donau-City-Strasse 1, 1220, Vienna, Austria
| | - A P Blaschke
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Girones
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| | - M Zessner
- Institute for Water Quality Resources and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/226, 1040, Vienna, Austria; Center of Water Resource Systems, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Sommer
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria; Medical University Vienna, Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - A H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060, Vienna, Austria; InterUniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Austria
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17
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Savio D, Sinclair L, Ijaz UZ, Parajka J, Reischer GH, Stadler P, Blaschke AP, Blöschl G, Mach RL, Kirschner AKT, Farnleitner AH, Eiler A. Bacterial diversity along a 2600 km river continuum. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4994-5007. [PMID: 25922985 PMCID: PMC4918796 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The bacterioplankton diversity in large rivers has thus far been under‐sampled despite the importance of streams and rivers as components of continental landscapes. Here, we present a comprehensive dataset detailing the bacterioplankton diversity along the midstream of the Danube River and its tributaries. Using 16S rRNA‐gene amplicon sequencing, our analysis revealed that bacterial richness and evenness gradually declined downriver in both the free‐living and particle‐associated bacterial communities. These shifts were also supported by beta diversity analysis, where the effects of tributaries were negligible in regards to the overall variation. In addition, the river was largely dominated by bacteria that are commonly observed in freshwaters. Dominated by the acI lineage, the freshwater SAR11 (LD12) and the Polynucleobacter group, typical freshwater taxa increased in proportion downriver and were accompanied by a decrease in soil and groundwater‐affiliated bacteria. Based on views of the meta‐community and River Continuum Concept, we interpret the observed taxonomic patterns and accompanying changes in alpha and beta diversity with the intention of laying the foundation for a unified concept for river bacterioplankton diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Savio
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lucas Sinclair
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Umer Z Ijaz
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Juraj Parajka
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resource Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Stadler
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Water Quality, Resource and Waste Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alfred P Blaschke
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resource Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Günter Blöschl
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resource Management, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert L Mach
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health, www.waterandhealth.at, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Eiler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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18
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Åström J, Pettersson TJR, Reischer GH, Norberg T, Hermansson M. Incorporating expert judgments in utility evaluation of bacteroidales qPCR assays for microbial source tracking in a drinking water source. Environ Sci Technol 2015; 49:1311-8. [PMID: 25545113 PMCID: PMC5509012 DOI: 10.1021/es504579j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Several assays for the detection of host-specific genetic markers of the order Bacteroidales have been developed and used for microbial source tracking (MST) in environmental waters. It is recognized that the source-sensitivity and source-specificity are unknown and variable when introducing these assays in new geographic regions, which reduces their reliability and use. A Bayesian approach was developed to incorporate expert judgments with regional assay sensitivity and specificity assessments in a utility evaluation of a human and a ruminant-specific qPCR assay for MST in a drinking water source. Water samples from Lake Rådasjön were analyzed for E. coli, intestinal enterococci and somatic coliphages through cultivation and for human (BacH) and ruminant-specific (BacR) markers through qPCR assays. Expert judgments were collected regarding the probability of human and ruminant fecal contamination based on fecal indicator organism data and subjective information. Using Bayes formula, the conditional probability of a true human or ruminant fecal contamination given the presence of BacH or BacR was determined stochastically from expert judgments and regional qPCR assay performance, using Beta distributions to represent uncertainties. A web-based computational tool was developed for the procedure, which provides a measure of confidence to findings of host-specific markers and demonstrates the information value from these assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Åström
- Tyréns AB, Lilla Badhusgatan 2, SE-411 21 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Thomas J. R. Pettersson
- Water Environment Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Interuniversity Center Water & Health, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tommy Norberg
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Malte Hermansson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Corresponding Author Phone +46(0)31 786 2575; fax +46(0)31 786 2599; .
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19
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Vierheilig J, Savio D, Ley RE, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH, Reischer GH. Potential applications of next generation DNA sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons in microbial water quality monitoring. Water Sci Technol 2015; 72:1962-72. [PMID: 26606090 PMCID: PMC4884447 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2015.407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The applicability of next generation DNA sequencing (NGS) methods for water quality assessment has so far not been broadly investigated. This study set out to evaluate the potential of an NGS-based approach in a complex catchment with importance for drinking water abstraction. In this multi-compartment investigation, total bacterial communities in water, faeces, soil, and sediment samples were investigated by 454 pyrosequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons to assess the capabilities of this NGS method for (i) the development and evaluation of environmental molecular diagnostics, (ii) direct screening of the bulk bacterial communities, and (iii) the detection of faecal pollution in water. Results indicate that NGS methods can highlight potential target populations for diagnostics and will prove useful for the evaluation of existing and the development of novel DNA-based detection methods in the field of water microbiology. The used approach allowed unveiling of dominant bacterial populations but failed to detect populations with low abundances such as faecal indicators in surface waters. In combination with metadata, NGS data will also allow the identification of drivers of bacterial community composition during water treatment and distribution, highlighting the power of this approach for monitoring of bacterial regrowth and contamination in technical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Vierheilig
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria E-mail: ; Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria; Present address: Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - D Savio
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria E-mail: ; Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - R E Ley
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - R L Mach
- Gene Technology Group, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - A H Farnleitner
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria E-mail: ; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - G H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria E-mail: ; Interuniversity Cooperation Centre Water & Health, Institute for Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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20
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Layton BA, Cao Y, Ebentier DL, Hanley K, Ballesté E, Brandão J, Byappanahalli M, Converse R, Farnleitner AH, Gentry-Shields J, Gidley ML, Gourmelon M, Lee CS, Lee J, Lozach S, Madi T, Meijer WG, Noble R, Peed L, Reischer GH, Rodrigues R, Rose JB, Schriewer A, Sinigalliano C, Srinivasan S, Stewart J, Van De Werfhorst LC, Wang D, Whitman R, Wuertz S, Jay J, Holden PA, Boehm AB, Shanks O, Griffith JF. Performance of human fecal anaerobe-associated PCR-based assays in a multi-laboratory method evaluation study. Water Res 2013; 47:6897-908. [PMID: 23992621 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.05.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Revised: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/10/2013] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
A number of PCR-based methods for detecting human fecal material in environmental waters have been developed over the past decade, but these methods have rarely received independent comparative testing in large multi-laboratory studies. Here, we evaluated ten of these methods (BacH, BacHum-UCD, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BtH), BsteriF1, gyrB, HF183 endpoint, HF183 SYBR, HF183 Taqman(®), HumM2, and Methanobrevibacter smithii nifH (Mnif)) using 64 blind samples prepared in one laboratory. The blind samples contained either one or two fecal sources from human, wastewater or non-human sources. The assay results were assessed for presence/absence of the human markers and also quantitatively while varying the following: 1) classification of samples that were detected but not quantifiable (DNQ) as positive or negative; 2) reference fecal sample concentration unit of measure (such as culturable indicator bacteria, wet mass, total DNA, etc); and 3) human fecal source type (stool, sewage or septage). Assay performance using presence/absence metrics was found to depend on the classification of DNQ samples. The assays that performed best quantitatively varied based on the fecal concentration unit of measure and laboratory protocol. All methods were consistently more sensitive to human stools compared to sewage or septage in both the presence/absence and quantitative analysis. Overall, HF183 Taqman(®) was found to be the most effective marker of human fecal contamination in this California-based study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blythe A Layton
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd Ste 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
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21
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Raith MR, Kelty CA, Griffith JF, Schriewer A, Wuertz S, Mieszkin S, Gourmelon M, Reischer GH, Farnleitner AH, Ervin JS, Holden PA, Ebentier DL, Jay JA, Wang D, Boehm AB, Aw TG, Rose JB, Balleste E, Meijer WG, Sivaganesan M, Shanks OC. Comparison of PCR and quantitative real-time PCR methods for the characterization of ruminant and cattle fecal pollution sources. Water Res 2013; 47:6921-6928. [PMID: 23871256 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/31/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The State of California has mandated the preparation of a guidance document on the application of fecal source identification methods for recreational water quality management. California contains the fifth highest population of cattle in the United States, making the inclusion of cow-associated methods a logical choice. Because the performance of these methods has been shown to change based on geography and/or local animal feeding practices, laboratory comparisons are needed to determine which assays are best suited for implementation. We describe the performance characterization of two end-point PCR assays (CF128 and CF193) and five real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays (Rum2Bac, BacR, BacCow, CowM2, and CowM3) reported to be associated with either ruminant or cattle feces. Each assay was tested against a blinded set of 38 reference challenge filters (19 duplicate samples) containing fecal pollution from 12 different sources suspected to impact water quality. The abundance of each host-associated genetic marker was measured for qPCR-based assays in both target and non-target animals and compared to quantities of total DNA mass, wet mass of fecal material, as well as Bacteroidales, and enterococci determined by 16S rRNA qPCR and culture-based approaches (enterococci only). Ruminant- and cow-associated genetic markers were detected in all filters containing a cattle fecal source. However, some assays cross-reacted with non-target pollution sources. A large amount of variability was evident across laboratories when protocols were not fixed suggesting that protocol standardization will be necessary for widespread implementation. Finally, performance metrics indicate that the cattle-associated CowM2 qPCR method combined with either the BacR or Rum2Bac ruminant-associated methods are most suitable for implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith R Raith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Blvd STE 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
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22
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Aström J, Pettersson TJR, Reischer GH, Hermansson M. Short-term microbial release during rain events from on-site sewers and cattle in a surface water source. J Water Health 2013; 11:430-442. [PMID: 23981872 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2013.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The protection of drinking water from pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia requires an understanding of the short-term microbial release from faecal contamination sources in the catchment. Flow-weighted samples were collected during two rainfall events in a stream draining an area with on-site sewers and during two rainfall events in surface runoff from a bovine cattle pasture. Samples were analysed for human (BacH) and ruminant (BacR) Bacteroidales genetic markers through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and for sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria through culturing as a complement to traditional faecal indicator bacteria, somatic coliphages and the parasitic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. analysed by standard methods. Significant positive correlations were observed between BacH, Escherichia coli, intestinal enterococci, sulphite-reducing Clostridia, turbidity, conductivity and UV254 in the stream contaminated by on-site sewers. For the cattle pasture, no correlation was found between any of the genetic markers and the other parameters. Although parasitic protozoa were not detected, the analysis for genetic markers provided baseline data on the short-term faecal contamination due to these potential sources of parasites. Background levels of BacH and BacR makers in soil emphasise the need to including soil reference samples in qPCR-based analyses for Bacteroidales genetic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Aström
- Tyréns AB, Lilla Badhusgatan 2, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Reischer GH, Ebdon JE, Bauer JM, Schuster N, Ahmed W, Aström J, Blanch AR, Blöschl G, Byamukama D, Coakley T, Ferguson C, Goshu G, Ko G, de Roda Husman AM, Mushi D, Poma R, Pradhan B, Rajal V, Schade MA, Sommer R, Taylor H, Toth EM, Vrajmasu V, Wuertz S, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH. Performance characteristics of qPCR assays targeting human- and ruminant-associated bacteroidetes for microbial source tracking across sixteen countries on six continents. Environ Sci Technol 2013; 47:8548-56. [PMID: 23755882 PMCID: PMC3737603 DOI: 10.1021/es304367t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Numerous quantitative PCR assays for microbial fecal source tracking (MST) have been developed and evaluated in recent years. Widespread application has been hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding the geographical stability and hence applicability of such methods beyond the regional level. This study assessed the performance of five previously reported quantitative PCR assays targeting human-, cattle-, or ruminant-associated Bacteroidetes populations on 280 human and animal fecal samples from 16 countries across six continents. The tested cattle-associated markers were shown to be ruminant-associated. The quantitative distributions of marker concentrations in target and nontarget samples proved to be essential for the assessment of assay performance and were used to establish a new metric for quantitative source-specificity. In general, this study demonstrates that stable target populations required for marker-based MST occur around the globe. Ruminant-associated marker concentrations were strongly correlated with total intestinal Bacteroidetes populations and with each other, indicating that the detected ruminant-associated populations seem to be part of the intestinal core microbiome of ruminants worldwide. Consequently tested ruminant-targeted assays appear to be suitable quantitative MST tools beyond the regional level while the targeted human-associated populations seem to be less prevalent and stable, suggesting potential for improvements in human-targeted methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg H Reischer
- Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Chemical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
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24
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Vierheilig J, Farnleitner AH, Kollanur D, Blöschl G, Reischer GH. High abundance of genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution in pristine alpine soils suggests lack in specificity for feces. J Microbiol Methods 2012; 88:433-5. [PMID: 22285854 PMCID: PMC3314916 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2011] [Revised: 01/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Two frequently applied genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution (AllBac and BacUni) were found in high numbers in pristine soil samples of two alpine catchment areas casting doubt on their value as fecal indicators. This finding underlines the necessity to evaluate assays locally and against non-intestinal samples before application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Vierheilig
- Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas H. Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
- InterUniversity Cooperation Centre Water and Health (ICC Water & Health), Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Denny Kollanur
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
| | - Günter Blöschl
- Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg H. Reischer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Division Biotechnology and Microbiology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Gumpendorfer Straße 1a/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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25
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Farnleitner AH, Ryzinska-Paier G, Reischer GH, Burtscher MM, Knetsch S, Kirschner AKT, Dirnböck T, Kuschnig G, Mach RL, Sommer R. Escherichia coli and enterococci are sensitive and reliable indicators for human, livestock and wildlife faecal pollution in alpine mountainous water resources. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 109:1599-608. [PMID: 20629798 PMCID: PMC3154642 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04788.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study evaluated the applicability of standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) for alpine mountainous water resources monitoring. METHODS AND RESULTS Escherichia coli, enterococci (ENTC) and Clostridium perfringens were investigated by standard or frequently applied phenotypic and genotypic methods in a broad range of animal and human faecal sources in a large alpine mountainous area. Clostridium perfringens occurred only in human, livestock and carnivorous source groups in relevant average concentrations (log 4·7-7·0CFU g(-1) ) but not in herbivorous wildlife sources. Escherichia coli proved to be distributed in all faecal source groups with remarkably balanced average concentrations (log 7·0-8·4CFU g(-1) ). Except for single faecal samples from the cattle source group, prevalence rates for ENTC source groups were generally >87% with average concentrations of log 5·3-7·7 CFUg(-1) . To test the faecal indication capacity in the environment, faecal prevalence data were comparatively analysed with results from the concurrently performed multi-parametric microbial source tracking effort on karst spring water quality from the investigated alpine mountainous catchment (Reischer et al. 2008; Environ Microbiol 10:2598-2608). CONCLUSION Escherichia coli and enterococci are reliable faecal indicators for alpine mountainous water resources monitoring, although E. coli is the more sensitive one. Clostridium perfringens did not prove to be an indicator of general faecal pollution but is suggested a conservative microbial source tracking marker for anthropogenic faecal influence. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Applicability of SFIB is currently hotly debated. This is the first study providing comprehensive information on the applicability of SFIB at alpine mountainous habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Farnleitner
- Institute for Chemical Engineering, Research Area Applied Biochemistry and Gene Technology, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.
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26
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Kasper DC, Mechtler TP, Reischer GH, Witt A, Langgartner M, Pollak A, Herkner KR, Berger A. The bacterial load of Ureaplasma parvum in amniotic fluid is correlated with an increased intrauterine inflammatory response. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2010; 67:117-21. [PMID: 20207094 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2009.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2009] [Revised: 12/22/2009] [Accepted: 12/30/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Ureaplasma spp. are the most frequently isolated microorganisms inside the amniotic cavity and have been associated with spontaneous abortion, chorioamnionitis, premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), and preterm labor (PL). We analyzed 118 samples from amniotic fluid of preterm infants before 34 weeks of gestation by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Bacterial load, Ureaplasma biovar discrimination (Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum), and the level of inflammation were correlated with short-term clinical outcome. U. parvum was the predominant biovar, and increased bacterial load was significantly linked to histologic chorioamnionitis, PROM + PL, early-onset sepsis, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the amount of U. parvum and the magnitude of inflammatory response inside the amniotic cavity observed by elevated interleukin 8 levels. We postulate that the bacterial load of Ureaplasma spp. measured by qPCR should be determined in studies investigating the potential clinical impact of intrauterine Ureaplasma spp. on the outcome of preterm infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Kasper
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Reischer GH, Haider JM, Sommer R, Stadler H, Keiblinger KM, Hornek R, Zerobin W, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH. Quantitative microbial faecal source tracking with sampling guided by hydrological catchment dynamics. Environ Microbiol 2008; 10:2598-608. [PMID: 18564182 PMCID: PMC3025520 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01682.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The impairment of water quality by faecal pollution is a global public health concern. Microbial source tracking methods help to identify faecal sources but the few recent quantitative microbial source tracking applications disregarded catchment hydrology and pollution dynamics. This quantitative microbial source tracking study, conducted in a large karstic spring catchment potentially influenced by humans and ruminant animals, was based on a tiered sampling approach: a 31-month water quality monitoring (Monitoring) covering seasonal hydrological dynamics and an investigation of flood events (Events) as periods of the strongest pollution. The detection of a ruminant-specific and a human-specific faecal Bacteroidetes marker by quantitative real-time PCR was complemented by standard microbiological and on-line hydrological parameters. Both quantitative microbial source tracking markers were detected in spring water during Monitoring and Events, with preponderance of the ruminant-specific marker. Applying multiparametric analysis of all data allowed linking the ruminant-specific marker to general faecal pollution indicators, especially during Events. Up to 80% of the variation of faecal indicator levels during Events could be explained by ruminant-specific marker levels proving the dominance of ruminant faecal sources in the catchment. Furthermore, soil was ruled out as a source of quantitative microbial source tracking markers. This study demonstrates the applicability of quantitative microbial source tracking methods and highlights the prerequisite of considering hydrological catchment dynamics in source tracking study design.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Reischer
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Gene Technology Group, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/166-5-2, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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Reischer GH, Kasper DC, Steinborn R, Mach RL, Farnleitner AH. Quantitative PCR method for sensitive detection of ruminant fecal pollution in freshwater and evaluation of this method in alpine karstic regions. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 72:5610-4. [PMID: 16885315 PMCID: PMC1538736 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00364-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A quantitative TaqMan minor-groove binder real-time PCR assay was developed for the sensitive detection of a ruminant-specific genetic marker in fecal members of the phylum Bacteroidetes. The qualitative and quantitative detection limits determined were 6 and 20 marker copies per PCR, respectively. Tested ruminant feces contained an average of 4.1 x 10(9) marker equivalents per g, allowing the detection of 1.7 ng of feces per filter in fecal suspensions. The marker was detected in water samples from a karstic catchment area at levels matching a gradient from negligible to considerable ruminant fecal influence (from not detectable to 10(5) marker equivalents per liter).
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg H Reischer
- Institute for Chemical Engineering, Gene Technology Group, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9-166/5, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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Reischer GH, Lemmens M, Farnleitner A, Adler A, Mach RL. Quantification of Fusarium graminearum in infected wheat by species specific real-time PCR applying a TaqMan Probe. J Microbiol Methods 2004; 59:141-6. [PMID: 15325762 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2004.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2004] [Accepted: 06/03/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
A new real-time PCR based method was developed for the species-specific detection, identification and quantification of Fusarium graminearum in planta. It utilizes a TaqMan hybridisation probe targeting the beta-tubulin gene and a plasmid standard. The assay is highly specific giving no product with DNA of closely related species. It is very sensitive, detecting down to five gene copies per reaction, and is able to produce reliable quantitative data over a range of six orders of magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- G H Reischer
- Institute for Chemical Engineering, Gene Technology Group, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9/166, A-1060 Vienna, Austria
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