Clean water
UNICEF estimates that over 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water. Micro-organisms are responsible for a host of waterborne diseases, but simultaneously offer solutions in purifying water and improving sanitation. Biofertilizers offer promising solutions for reduced nutrient runoff and wastewater recycling. As well as applying microbes to combat the problem, applied microbiologists can use their knowledge of health and disease to reduce cases of waterborne disease.
News
New coastal pathogen database maps microbial risks across global waters
A new platform allows better mapping of global coastal environments to help track pathogens and associated risk factors.
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NewsTiny predatory bacteria help protect endangered Caribbean corals
New research suggests a microscopic predator may offer a new way to protect some of the Caribbean’s most endangered corals.
NewsA tiny pore identifies cyanobacteria toxins in lake water
Scientists have developed a new nanopore sensor that detects microcystins, toxins released by cyanobacterial blooms, one molecule at a time.
NewsHospital wastewater controls help contain antibiotic resistance in nearby waters
A new study of hospital wastewater reports that geography, rather than hospital proximity, primarily shaped resistance-gene profiles where wastewater controls were well established.
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BloomNet turns lake data into early algal bloom warnings
A research team has developed BloomNet, an interpretable deep-learning framework that forecasts harmful algal blooms at hourly resolution up to 72 hours ahead while also showing how risk changes over time.
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NewsMultidisciplinary framework bridges earth science and environmental engineering to combat waterborne pathogens
Waterborne pathogens remain a leading cause of infectious disease globally, responsible for 24% of all deaths and over 10 million fatalities each year.
NewsHigh-resolution map reveals where veterinary antibiotics enter China’s environment
A new study has developed a high-resolution, county-level inventory of veterinary antibiotic emissions across China, offering researchers and policymakers a clearer picture of where these pollutants originate and where they may accumulate.
NewsSelf-powered system turns wastewater into water and fertilizer
A new study reports a self-powered platform that links electrically assisted forward osmosis (eFO) with a microbial desalination cell (MDC), allowing electricity produced by wastewater-fed microbes to drive nutrient and water recovery.
NewsExpanding uses for bioengineered bacterial spores
Fused to the outer layer of bacterial spores, things like enzymes, biosensors, and drugs are easily stored under even extreme conditions.
NewsHow is climate change affecting waterborne diseases?
Researchers find bacteria, viruses and parasites respond differently to climate change, highlighting the need for pathogen-specific public health strategies.
NewsCyanobacterial toxins can be inhaled
Research on Southwest Florida cyanobacterial blooms shows that the toxins they produce are aerosolized, potentially being inhaled by people far from contaminated water bodies.
NewsBacteria form ‘herds’ to survive predators, offering fresh insight into Earth’s carbon cycle
Researchers have discovered that tiny photosynthetic bacteria band together into protective ‘herds’ when attacked by predators – a survival strategy that could also influence how carbon is stored in the world’s waters.
NewsKeystone microbes help stabilize nutrient cycling in a massive deep-water reservoir
A three-year genomic study reveals that microbial communities change substantially over time, while versatile keystone taxa help preserve essential ecosystem functions.
NewsBiologist will use €1.63m grant to investigate how microorganisms reactivate their metabolism after prolonged dormancy.
Dr. Sofia Doello has been awarded a grant of around 1.63 million euros for her research through the Emmy Noether program. In her project ’Metabolic foundation of developmental transitions’, she will investigate how microorganisms reactivate their metabolism after a prolonged period of dormancy.
NewsWhen parasites stop having sex, they may become less picky about their hosts
A new evolutionary theory suggests that some asexual parasites may temporarily be able to infect a wider range of hosts as harmful genetic mutations build up.
NewsWhat D.C.’s algal bloom reveals about a growing water threat
Environmental engineer Steven Chapra speaks out about cyanobacteria algal blooms in the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, expanding on why harmful algal blooms are a growing concern, and what they may mean for freshwater ecosystems.
NewsStudy: China reverses widespread freshwater deoxygenation via wastewater management
Freshwater ecosystems worldwide have been suffering from declining oxygen levels that threatens biodiversity, fisheries, and ecosystem stability. However, a new study offers hope: targeted nutrient management via wastewater control can reverse this trajectory, even in the face of rapid climate warming.
NewsThe climate crisis threatens river microbial biodiversity
A study warns that the biodiversity and biological functions of aquatic fungi in rivers are at risk due to rising temperatures, prolonged dry periods and the loss of riparian vegetation caused by climate change.
NewsUnsafe water still drives global diarrheal disease burden
A new study, analysing data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, found that deaths and disability-adjusted life years linked to unsafe water have declined sharply over the last three decades. Nevertheless, the burden remains concentrated in low socio-demographic index regions.
NewsGlobal port microbiomes reveal hidden biosecurity signals
By analyzing more than 16 million 16S rRNA gene sequences from 1,045 port water samples collected in 23 cities across five continents, a study has found clear biogeographic patterns, a core set of dominant bacterial genera, and widespread potential pathogens.
NewsResearchers aim to autonomously eliminate plant-killing bacteria from hydroponic farming systems
Three researchers have received a nearly $600,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a system that can autonomously detect and remove crop-killing microbes from hydroponic farms before they cause damage to plants.
NewsMovement of “forever chemicals” through the Great Lakes
New analysis of 42 years worth of biological records from the Great Lakes, unveils how per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” have moved across the region, contaminating a variety of wildlife.
NewsUrgent hot tub health warning as Britain prepares to sizzle
As Britain prepares to sizzle with temperatures expected to reach 37°C in some areas over the next four days, water experts are warning that a potentially deadly disease can thrive in hot tubs, pools and other domestic water devices.