Department Environmental Microbiology

Environmental Microbiology

Our research focuses on microbial life and activities in the environment. We strive to understand the basic rules and principles that govern the functioning of microbes and microbial communities, and then apply those principles to solve pressing applied problems.

Read more

Selected Publications

Drinking Water Microbiology: Review on biological approaches to control Legionella growth in building plumbing systems.

Microbial Systems Ecology: Article describing how marine bacteria regulate enzyme secretion and cellular behavior to achieve degradation of complex polysaccharides in the ocean, an important process in the global carbon cycle. 

Microbial Community Assembly: Article showing that the timing of antibiotic administration determines the proliferation of antibiotic resistance-encoding plasmids.

Pathogens and Human Health: Article about the role of contaminated surfaces in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within communities and the effectiveness of hand hygiene and surface disinfection interventions.

Microbial Specialized Metabolism: Over 2/3 of pharmaceuticals are mainly excreted through urine. Most studies have focused on the gut microbiota, neglecting biotransformations in urinary by the urinary tract microbiota, which we investigate in this study.

 

Seminars

19.03.​2024,
4.00 pm
Eawag Dübendorf FC-D24 & online via zoom
26.03.​2024,
4.00 pm
Eawag Dübendorf FC-D24 & online via zoom

News

December 8, 2023 –

Legionella always interact with other organisms. Eawag researchers have characterised microbial communities and analysed their relationship to Legionella.

Legionella always interact with other organisms. Eawag researchers have characterised microbial communities and analysed their relationship to Legionella.

Read more

Selected Research Projects

This project aims to characterize, model and predict enzyme families driving pollutant biotransformations in periphyton.
Application of Wastewater-based Epidemiology to SARS-CoV-2 Detection
We combine computational, experimental and clinical approaches to develop a clearer view of microbiomes.
Inhalation of legionella bacteria – which thrive in warm water – can cause illness: in a new project, an Eawag-led multidisciplinary research team is investigating how the risks associated with these bacteria can best be managed.