29. March 2024

Public LeCo Seminar 17 August 2022: Towards Universal Strategies for Opportunistic Pathogen Control in Premises Plumbing (in English)

17 August 2022, 3-4 pm (MESZ = UTC + 2h)

Free online participation: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83820506307?pwd=clFmYzdjUjd6SXkwdndEbmgxQWtSdz09 (Meeting ID: 838 2050 6307, Passcode: 016197)

For questions: email hidden; JavaScript is required (041 349 38 44)

In another LeCo seminar, invited speaker Professor Dr Amy Pruden (Virginia Tech, USA) will give us an insight into her research about legionella and other opportunistic pathogens.

Abstract

While great strides have been made in widely eradicating fecal pathogens from drinking water systems over the past century, opportunistic pathogens; such as Legionella spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nontuberculous mycobacteria, and various amoebae, present a new generation of challenges.  These organisms are well adapted to the biofilms of the distribution systems and premises (i.e., building) delivering potable water to consumers at the tap.  Here we will discuss the challenges in identifying control strategies that are universally effective for multiple OPs and that can be applied in a variety of settings and scales. 

The presentation will be given in English.

Invited Speaker: Prof. Dr. Amy Pruden

  • Professor in the Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech
  • Ph.D. Environmental Science, University of Cincinnati, 2002
  • B.S. Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 1997
  • Dr. Pruden’s research seeks to advance water engineering and agricultural practices through deeper understanding of the microbial communities inhabiting these systems.
  • Her team applies a combination of next-generation DNA sequencing and bioinformatic tools to track targets of interest, including opportunistic pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and various functional groups of bacteria.