Abteilung Umweltmikrobiologie

Krankheitserreger und menschliche Gesundheit

Forschungsgebiete

Die Forschungsagenda der Gruppe “Kranheitserreger und menschliche Gesundheit” besteht darin, die globale Belastung durch Infektionskrankheiten zu verringern, indem die Überwachung und Übertragung von Krankheitserregern an der Schnittstelle zwischen Mensch und Umwelt untersucht wird.

Trotz der drastischen Belastungs-Verringerung durch Infektionskrankheiten im letzten Jahrhundert sind Morbidität und Mortalität nach wie vor auffallend hoch. So gibt es beispielsweise weltweit jedes Jahr über 4 Milliarden Fälle von Magen-Darm-Erkrankungen und 14 Milliarden Fälle von Atemwegserkrankungen. Auch Antibiotikaresistenzen stellen eine wachsende Bedrohung dar und verursachen jährlich schätzungsweise eine Million Todesfälle. Diese Krankheiten werden, wie viele andere auch, von einer infizierten Person über die Umwelt auf eine anfällige Person übertragen. Die Übertragung durch die Umwelt bietet Möglichkeiten, Krankheitserreger zu erkennen, um Erkenntnisse über die Krankheitsdynamik zu gewinnen und die Entwicklung wirksamer Maßnahmen zur Infektionskontrolle zu unterstützen.

Die Forschungsgruppe “Krankheitserreger und menschliche Gesundheit” arbeitet an der Entwicklung, Standardisierung und Anwendung von Methoden für den sensitiven Nachweis, die Quantifizierung und die Charakterisierung von umweltübertragenen Infektionskrankheiten. Zu den methodischen Ansätzen gehört der kulturbasierte und molekulare Nachweis, quantitative und digitale PCR, Amplikon-basierte Tilling-Sequenzierung, metagenomische Sequenzierung und Gesamt-Genom-Sequenzierung. Diese Methoden werden auf verschiedene Matrizen angewendet, darunter Hände, Boden, Oberflächen, Wasser und Abwasser.

Die Ergebnisse unserer Gruppe werden geteilt und verbreitet, unter anderem in von Experten begutachteten Publikationen (DORA 4RI), nationalen und internationalen Konferenzen und Seminaren, Online-Daten-Dashboards (wise.ethz.ch) und im direkten Austausch mit kantonalen und bundesweiten Behörden.

Gruppenleiter

Ausgewählte Publikationen

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   0 => Snowflake\Publications\Domain\Model\Publicationprototypepersistent entity (uid=33893, pid=124)
      originalId => protected33893 (integer)
      authors => protected'de Korne-Elenbaas, J.; Caduff, L.; Lison, A.; McLeod, R
         .; Pitton, M.; Gan, C.; Julian, T. R.
' (133 chars) title => protected'Design, validation, and implementation of multiplex digital PCR assays for s
         imultaneous quantification of multiple targets
' (122 chars) journal => protected'Letters in Applied Microbiology' (31 chars) year => protected2025 (integer) volume => protected78 (integer) issue => protected'1' (1 chars) startpage => protected'ovae137 (11 pp.)' (16 chars) otherpage => protected'' (0 chars) categories => protected'PCR (polymerase chain reaction); microbial detection methods; molecular biol
         ogy; molecular diagnostics; method development
' (122 chars) description => protected'Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital PCR (dPCR) are app
         lied for quantifying molecular targets in disease diagnostics, pathogen dete
         ction, and ecological monitoring. Uptake of dPCR is increasing due to its hi
         gher quantification accuracy relative to qPCR, which stems from its independ
         ence from standard curves and its increased resistance to PCR inhibitors. Th
         roughput can be increased through multiplexing, which allows simultaneous qu
         antification of multiple targets. However, multiplexing with dPCR faces uniq
         ue challenges relative to qPCR. Here, we describe the three-phase developmen
         t process of non-competing multiplex dPCR assays using target-specific fluor
         escently labeled hydrolysis probes. We highlight common challenges encounter
         ed, along with recommended solutions. Phase 1: <em>In silico</em> assay desi
         gn; target-specific primers and probes are selected or designed, potential i
         ssues with primer and probe interactions are identified, and fluorophores an
         d quenchers are chosen based on dPCR instrumentation. Phase 2: Wet-lab valid
         ation; assays are benchmarked using positive controls. Insufficient performa
         nce leads to assay redesign, as needed. Phase 3: Assay implementation; assay
          specificity and sensitivity are validated on relevant sample matrices. Fina
         lly, we provide recommendations on the future design and standardization of
         multiplexed dPCR assays, highlighting the need for better <em>in silico</em>
          predictions of assay performance, standardizing positive controls, and auto
         mating partition classification systems.
' (1560 chars) serialnumber => protected'0266-8254' (9 chars) doi => protected'10.1093/lambio/ovae137' (22 chars) uid => protected33893 (integer) _localizedUid => protected33893 (integer)modified _languageUid => protectedNULL _versionedUid => protected33893 (integer)modified pid => protected124 (integer)
1 => Snowflake\Publications\Domain\Model\Publicationprototypepersistent entity (uid=33212, pid=124) originalId => protected33212 (integer) authors => protected'Greenwood,&nbsp;E.&nbsp;E.; Lauber,&nbsp;T.; van den Hoogen,&nbsp;J.; Donmez
         ,&nbsp;A.; Bain,&nbsp;R.&nbsp;E.&nbsp;S.; Johnston,&nbsp;R.; Crowther,&nbsp;
         T.&nbsp;W.; Julian,&nbsp;T.&nbsp;R.
' (187 chars) title => protected'Mapping safe drinking water use in low- and middle-income countries' (67 chars) journal => protected'Science' (7 chars) year => protected2024 (integer) volume => protected385 (integer) issue => protected'6710' (4 chars) startpage => protected'784' (3 chars) otherpage => protected'790' (3 chars) categories => protected'' (0 chars) description => protected'Safe drinking water access is a human right, but data on safely managed drin
         king water services (SMDWS) is lacking for more than half of the global popu
         lation. We estimate SMDWS use in 135 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs
         ) at subnational levels with a geospatial modeling approach, combining exist
         ing household survey data with available global geospatial datasets. We esti
         mate that only one in three people used SMDWS in LMICs in 2020 and identifie
         d fecal contamination as the primary limiting factor affecting almost half o
         f the population of LMICs. Our results are relevant for raising awareness ab
         out the challenges and limitations of current global monitoring approaches a
         nd demonstrating how globally available geospatial data can be leveraged to
         fill data gaps and identify priority areas in LMICs.
' (812 chars) serialnumber => protected'0036-8075' (9 chars) doi => protected'10.1126/science.adh9578' (23 chars) uid => protected33212 (integer) _localizedUid => protected33212 (integer)modified _languageUid => protectedNULL _versionedUid => protected33212 (integer)modified pid => protected124 (integer)
2 => Snowflake\Publications\Domain\Model\Publicationprototypepersistent entity (uid=32890, pid=124) originalId => protected32890 (integer) authors => protected'Tang,&nbsp;L.; Rhoads,&nbsp;W.&nbsp;J.; Eichelberg,&nbsp;A.; Hamilton,&nbsp;
         K.&nbsp;A.; Julian,&nbsp;T.&nbsp;R.
' (111 chars) title => protected'Applications of quantitative microbial risk assessment to respiratory pathog
         ens and implications for uptake in policy: a state-of-the-science review
' (148 chars) journal => protected'Environmental Health Perspectives' (33 chars) year => protected2024 (integer) volume => protected132 (integer) issue => protected'5' (1 chars) startpage => protected'56001 (16 pp.)' (14 chars) otherpage => protected'' (0 chars) categories => protected'' (0 chars) description => protected'<em>BACKGROUND:</em> respiratory tract infections are major contributors to
         the global disease burden. Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) hol
         ds potential as a rapidly deployable framework to understand respiratory pat
         hogen transmission and inform policy on infection control.<br />OBJECTIVES:
         the goal of this paper was to evaluate, motivate, and inform further develop
         ment of the use of QMRA as a rapid tool to understand the transmission of re
         spiratory pathogens and improve the evidence base for infection control poli
         cies.<br />METHODS: we conducted a literature review to identify peer-review
         ed studies of complete QMRA frameworks on aerosol inhalation or contact tran
         smission of respiratory pathogens. From each of the identified studies, we e
         xtracted and summarized information on the applied exposure model approaches
         , dose-response models, and parameter values, including risk characterizatio
         n. Finally, we reviewed linkages between model outcomes and policy.<br />RES
         ULTS: we identified 93 studies conducted in 16 different countries with comp
         lete QMRA frameworks for diverse respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2
         , <em>Legionella</em> spp., <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, influenza, and <
         em>Bacillus anthracis</em>. Six distinct exposure models were identified acr
         oss diverse and complex transmission pathways. In 57 studies, exposure model
          frameworks were informed by their ability to model the efficacy of potentia
         l interventions. Among interventions, masking, ventilation, social distancin
         g, and other environmental source controls were commonly assessed. Pathogen
         concentration, aerosol concentration, and partitioning coefficient were infl
         uential exposure parameters as identified by sensitivity analysis. Most (84%
         , <em>n</em>=78) studies presented policy-relevant content including <em>a)<
         /em> determining disease burden to call for policy intervention, <em>b)</em>
          determining risk-based threshold values for regulations, <em>c)</em> inform
         ing intervention and con...
' (2442 chars) serialnumber => protected'0091-6765' (9 chars) doi => protected'10.1289/EHP12695' (16 chars) uid => protected32890 (integer) _localizedUid => protected32890 (integer)modified _languageUid => protectedNULL _versionedUid => protected32890 (integer)modified pid => protected124 (integer)
3 => Snowflake\Publications\Domain\Model\Publicationprototypepersistent entity (uid=33237, pid=124) originalId => protected33237 (integer) authors => protected'Reynaert,&nbsp;E.; Sylvestre,&nbsp;É.; Morgenroth,&nbsp;E.; Julian,&nbsp;T.
         &nbsp;R.
' (84 chars) title => protected'Greywater recycling for diverse collection scales and appliances: enteric pa
         thogen log-removal targets and treatment trains
' (123 chars) journal => protected'Water Research' (14 chars) year => protected2024 (integer) volume => protected264 (integer) issue => protected'' (0 chars) startpage => protected'122216 (13 pp.)' (15 chars) otherpage => protected'' (0 chars) categories => protected'Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA); water reuse; greywater; log-r
         emoval value; recycling
' (99 chars) description => protected'In light of increasingly diverse greywater reuse applications, this study pr
         oposes risk-based log-removal targets (LRTs) to aid the selection of treatme
         nt trains for greywater recycling at different collection scales, including
         appliance-scale reuse of individual greywater streams. An epidemiology-based
          model was used to simulate the concentrations of prevalent and treatment-re
         sistant reference pathogens (protozoa: <em>Giardia</em> and <em>Cryptosporid
         ium</em> spp.<em>,</em> bacteria: <em>Salmonella</em> and <em>Campylobacter<
         /em> spp., viruses: rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and Coxsackievirus B5)
          in the greywater streams for collection scales of 5-, 100-, and a 1000-peop
         le. Using quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), we calculated LRTs
         to meet a health benchmark of 10<sup>–4</sup> infections per person per ye
         ar over 10′000 Monte Carlo iterations. LRTs were highest for norovirus at
         the 5-people scale and for adenovirus at the 100- and 1000-people scales. Ex
         ample treatment trains were designed to meet the 95 % quantiles of LRTs. Tre
         atment trains consisted of an aerated membrane bioreactor, chlorination, and
         , if required, UV disinfection. In most cases, rotavirus, norovirus, adenovi
         rus and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp<em>.</em> determined the overall treatm
         ent train requirements. Norovirus was most often critical to dimension the c
         hlorination (concentration × time values) and adenovirus determined the req
         uired UV dose. Smaller collection scales did not generally allow for simpler
          treatment trains due to the high LRTs associated with viruses, with the exc
         eption of recirculating washing machines and handwashing stations. Similarly
         , treating greywater sources individually resulted in lower LRTs, but the lo
         wer required LRTs nevertheless did not generally allow for simpler treatment
          trains. For instance, LRTs for a recirculating washing machine were around
         3-log units lower compared to LRTs for indoor reuse of combined greywater (1
         000-people scale), but b...
' (2546 chars) serialnumber => protected'0043-1354' (9 chars) doi => protected'10.1016/j.watres.2024.122216' (28 chars) uid => protected33237 (integer) _localizedUid => protected33237 (integer)modified _languageUid => protectedNULL _versionedUid => protected33237 (integer)modified pid => protected124 (integer)
4 => Snowflake\Publications\Domain\Model\Publicationprototypepersistent entity (uid=32976, pid=124) originalId => protected32976 (integer) authors => protected'Conforti,&nbsp;S.; Holschneider,&nbsp;A.; Sylvestre,&nbsp;É.; Julian,&nbsp;
         T.&nbsp;R.
' (86 chars) title => protected'Monitoring ESBL-Escherichia coli in Swiss wastewater between November 2021 a
         nd November 2022: insights into population carriage
' (127 chars) journal => protected'mSphere' (7 chars) year => protected2024 (integer) volume => protected9 (integer) issue => protected'5' (1 chars) startpage => protected'1' (1 chars) otherpage => protected'16' (2 chars) categories => protected'esbl-e. coli; wastewater-based epidemiology; Switzerland; antimicrobial resi
         stance; molecular methods
' (101 chars) description => protected'Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global health threat, causing million
         s of deaths annually, with expectations of increased impact in the future. W
         astewater surveillance offers a cost-effective, non-invasive tool to underst
         and AMR carriage trends within a population. We monitored extended-spectrum
         β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E. coli) weekly in influent wa
         stewater from six wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Switzerland (Novemb
         er 2021 to November 2022) to investigate spatio-temporal variations, explore
          correlations with environmental variables, develop a predictive model for E
         SBL-E. coli carriage in the community, and detect the most prevalent ESBL-ge
         nes. We cultured total and ESBL-E. coli in 300 wastewater samples to quantif
         y daily loads and percentage of ESBL-E. coli. Additionally, we screened 234
         ESBL-E. coli isolates using molecular methods for the presence of 18 ESBL-ge
         ne families. We found a population-weighted mean percentage of ESBL-E. coli
         of 1.9% (95% confidence interval: 1.8–2%) across all sites and weeks, whic
         h can inform ESBL-E. coli carriage. Concentrations of ESBL-E. coli varied ac
         ross WWTPs and time, with higher values observed in WWTPs serving larger pop
         ulations. Recent precipitations (previous 24/96 h) showed no significant ass
         ociation with ESBL-E. coli, while temperature occasionally had a moderate im
         pact (P &lt; 0.05, correlation coefficients approximately 0.40) in some loca
         tions. We identified bla<sub>CTX-M-1</sub>, bla<sub>CTX-M-9</sub>, and bla<s
         ub>TEM</sub> as the predominant ESBL-gene families. Our study demonstrates t
         hat wastewater-based surveillance of culturable ESBL-E. coli provides insigh
         ts into AMR trends in Switzerland and may also inform resistance. These find
         ings establish a foundation for long term, nationally established monitoring
          protocols and provide information that may help inform targeted public heal
         th interventions. IMPORTANCE Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global heal
         th threat and is commonl...
' (2901 chars) serialnumber => protected'' (0 chars) doi => protected'10.1128/msphere.00760-23' (24 chars) uid => protected32976 (integer) _localizedUid => protected32976 (integer)modified _languageUid => protectedNULL _versionedUid => protected32976 (integer)modified pid => protected124 (integer)
de Korne-Elenbaas, J.; Caduff, L.; Lison, A.; McLeod, R.; Pitton, M.; Gan, C.; Julian, T. R. (2025) Design, validation, and implementation of multiplex digital PCR assays for simultaneous quantification of multiple targets, Letters in Applied Microbiology, 78(1), ovae137 (11 pp.), doi:10.1093/lambio/ovae137, Institutional Repository
Greenwood, E. E.; Lauber, T.; van den Hoogen, J.; Donmez, A.; Bain, R. E. S.; Johnston, R.; Crowther, T. W.; Julian, T. R. (2024) Mapping safe drinking water use in low- and middle-income countries, Science, 385(6710), 784-790, doi:10.1126/science.adh9578, Institutional Repository
Tang, L.; Rhoads, W. J.; Eichelberg, A.; Hamilton, K. A.; Julian, T. R. (2024) Applications of quantitative microbial risk assessment to respiratory pathogens and implications for uptake in policy: a state-of-the-science review, Environmental Health Perspectives, 132(5), 56001 (16 pp.), doi:10.1289/EHP12695, Institutional Repository
Reynaert, E.; Sylvestre, É.; Morgenroth, E.; Julian, T. R. (2024) Greywater recycling for diverse collection scales and appliances: enteric pathogen log-removal targets and treatment trains, Water Research, 264, 122216 (13 pp.), doi:10.1016/j.watres.2024.122216, Institutional Repository
Conforti, S.; Holschneider, A.; Sylvestre, É.; Julian, T. R. (2024) Monitoring ESBL-Escherichia coli in Swiss wastewater between November 2021 and November 2022: insights into population carriage, mSphere, 9(5), 1-16, doi:10.1128/msphere.00760-23, Institutional Repository

Projekte

Das WISE-Forschungsprojekt verfolgt das Ziel, die abwasserbasierte Überwachung zu verbessern, um die Dynamik von Infektionskrankheiten über die traditionelle klinische Überwachung hinaus zu verfolgen und vorherzusagen.
Anwendung von abwasserbasierter Epidemiologie
In warmem Wasser fühlen sie sich besonders wohl – Legionellen. Doch werden sie eingeatmet, kann das krankmachen: Wie die Gefahr durch diese Bakterien einzudämmen ist, untersucht nun ein multidisziplinäres Forschungsteam unter Leitung der Eawag in einem neu gestarteten Projekt.