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
In African lakes, microbes living on algae reduce a powerful greenhouse gas
Lakes emit as much methane as agriculture. Researchers have shown that, in 79 African lakes, bacteria living on the surface of microalgae act as a natural filter. The greener the water becomes, the more these methanotrophs break down this powerful greenhouse gas.
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NewsWHO reports latest global trends in cholera, meningitis and plague
Cholera deaths increased by 30% in 2025, despite fewer cases being reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2025, 47 countries reported 451 499 cholera cases and 7870 deaths to WHO, the highest number of annual cholera deaths reported to WHO since 1999.
NewsSafer water: From single-target tests to real-time multipathogen surveillance
A new perspective outlines how integrated biosensing systems could move aquatic pathogen surveillance from periodic single-target testing toward rapid, online monitoring of multiple pathogens at once.
NewsRainwater tanks may be harbouring hidden health risks
Rainwater tanks are a popular way for Australians to save water, but new research has found they can also harbour potentially harmful bacteria and metals that could pose health concerns.
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Cyanobacterium found in clean lakes shows little toxic potential
Scientists have assembled the first complete genomes of Gloeotrichia echinulata, comparing DNA of samples from both West Coast and Northeast lakes. They found no evidence of the machinery required to produce the toxins commonly associated with cyanobacteria.
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NewsBacteria pulled from local pond water show early promise for cleaning up sewage
A new study identifies green sulphur bacteria from Peshawar pond samples that reduced pollution markers in wastewater after a week of treatment.
Long ReadsHow indigenous microbes could rescue the Niger Delta
Benzene contamination from decades of oil exploitation has turned the Niger Delta’s groundwater into a slow-acting poison for millions of people. Yet the solution may already be living in the contaminated sediment itself, if only the political will exists to deploy it.
NewsWas Nîmes depopulated by the Plague of Cyprian?
Analyses of the carbonate deposits in the aqueduct featuring the famous Pont du Gard shed light on the water supply of the ancient city of Nîmes - and support the theory that the city was depopulated by the plague.
NewsDairy waste to fuel: New process unlocks potential of 95,000 tonnes of salty whey
A company that helped design how astronauts grow and recycle food in space is now applying that thinking to the critical problem of dairy waste here on Earth. Scientists turned salty whey, a high-volume by-product from cheese production, into bioethanol.
NewsIntermediate nitrification/denitrification bioreactor closes a gap
Researchers present a method for nitrification and denitrification of septic effluent comprising an intermediate nitrification/denitrification bioreactor which builds on concepts currently used in the design of full‑scale wastewater treatment plants.
NewsCo-digestion of waste and wastewater from biomanufacturing for energy recovery
Researchers have developed the Anaerobic Baffled Continuous Stirring (ABCS) reactor, a device capable of simultaneously treating solid waste and wastewater from biomanufacturing processes while recovering methane for energy self-sufficiency.
NewsRiver drinking water sources may face greater antibiotic resistance risks than reservoirs, study finds
A basin-wide study of 13 drinking water sources in China’s Poyang Lake region shows that water source type can strongly shape the occurrence and spread of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and resistant bacteria.
NewsMicroplastics may act as pollutant shuttles, carrying chemicals, pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes
A new review reveals how microplastics transport multiple pollutants across ecosystems and proposes a framework for identifying when these vector effects become serious ecological threats.
NewsPreliminary wastewater bioremediation by photosynthetic Chlorobium genus isolated from pond water
Researchers have isolated naturally occurring light-driven bacteria from local pond water and shown that, within just one week, these microorganisms can substantially reduce the levels of organic pollutants in raw sewage.
NewsAnti-fouling materials protect against slimy incursions
Researchershave received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to develop materials that incorporate soft robotics and nontoxic polymers to fight biofouling, or the buildup of aquatic organisms in wet environments.
NewsFirst results published from major algal gene sequencing project
A new study reveals that different species of microscopic algae can behave in strikingly different ways because of their genetics.
NewsSwimming in rivers and lakes linked to higher risk of stomach bugs and rashes
Researchers have found that people swimming in rivers and lakes were more than twice as likely to develop skin problems, while higher levels of bacteria linked to faecal pollution were associated with an increased risk of stomach bugs.
NewsReview explores the presence, fate, and effects of pharmaceutical compounds in soil and air
Pharmaceutical contamination in soil and air has become a critical environmental concern due to its widespread sources, complex behavior, and long-lasting ecological impacts.
NewsBiochar as an “electron bridge” unlocks hidden power of energy‑saving wastewater treatment
New research reveals how a charcoal‑like material triples electron transfer capacity in ammonia‑removing microbes, cutting wastewater treatment costs by up to 90%.
NewsAdding iron to the ocean can remove CO2 – but at what cost to nature?
Adding iron to the ocean can cause plankton to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere. However, the effect depends on where in the world the method is used, and it can have far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and food chains.
NewsDolphin blow may reveal the health status of these marine mammals
An international team of researchers has developed a new methodology to identify potential pathogens in dolphin blow.
CareersA day in the life: Discovering the hidden microbes of Britain’s historic waters
PhD student Wewerly Fernandes outlines her investigations into the microorganisms living in Britain’s historic wells and natural springs - once believed to hold healing properties and linked to legends of Merlin and renowned figures like Robert Burns.
NewsNew AI-driven technology could help combat harmful algal blooms
Researchers are developing an innovative technology that could help stop harmful algal blooms before they spread.