DSA - Apresentações orais em encontros internacionais
URI permanente para esta coleção:
Navegar
Entradas recentes
- Real-time RT-PCR vs Traditional methods in drinking water – A European StudyPublication . Brandão, JoãoAlthough rapid detection of micro-organisms with PCR methods is well established in research, the application in the practice of water utilities lacks far behind, despite obvious potential benefits (fast, sensitive, specific) of these methods for water safety management. The drinking water sector of the Netherlands has recently received approval for the use of RT-PCR methods for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci under the Drinking Water Directive, and have gained experience with both the steps needed to ensure the validity of the RT-PCR methods as well as their application in drinking water practice, with testing of drinking water samples after repairs or (potential) contamination events. At the European level, several institutes, health and water agencies and utilities have collaborated in an interlaboratory trial to test the comparability of the RT-PCR method for E. coli. This workshop is organised with each of the parties involved in the journey towards (accepted) implementation of RT-PCR methods for statutory monitoring in drinking water practice. Each party will show their view on the strengths, limitations and feasibility of RT-PCR methods for drinking water quality monitoring.
- Environmental Exposure and Health Impact: Fungal and Antifungal ReservoirsPublication . Brandão, JoãoThe ECMM group on Environmental exposure and health impact, previously known as the MycoSands study group, investigated recreational water and sand as overlooked environmental reservoirs of fungi, including opportunistic pathogens and antifungal-resistant strains. These ecosystems harbour diverse fungal communities that can persist under variable abiotic conditions and may act as sources of human exposure. Recent surveys conducted by the group highlight not only the presence of clinically relevant fungi in beach sand and water, but also the detection of antifungal resistance (AMR) traits, suggesting an environmental dimension in the spread of resistance. By combining ecological, microbiological, and molecular approaches, MycoSands seeks to characterise fungal biodiversity, resistance patterns, and their links with anthropogenic pressures. The findings emphasise the dual role of these environments as natural habitats and potential health risks, underscoring the importance of surveillance, risk assessment, and integrated strategies for environmental and clinical mycology. The group has since mycosands evolved to incorporate environmental surveillance of fungi and antifungals in wastewater and is now adding exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto and its AMR in compost, being open to additional study actions.
- MIR-HBM: The Minimum Information Requirements Guidance for Human Biomonitoring StudiesPublication . Hopf, Nancy B.Background To fully understand the context, methods, data, and interpretations of a human biomonitoring (HBM) study, access to comprehensive background information is essential. However, the diversity in HBM study designs, coupled with varying levels of detail in the data collected, often makes meaningful comparisons, data reuse, and interpretation across different studies challanging. Materials and methods To address this need, the Minimum Information Requirements for Human Biomonitoring (MIR-HBM) was developed by the European Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe) HBM working group and the HBM Global Network. MIR-HBM describes the minimal set of information that must be provided to enable effective communication of the setup of an HBM study to others. It enables the generation of the metadata ('data about the data') that will cover all components of the study, including rationale and objectives, study population characteristics, biological specimen collection, laboratory analysis and method parameters, data analysis plan, data interpretation, and communication and reporting. Results Adherence to these reporting guidelines will result in publications of increased clarity,quality, comparability, and usefulness to the scientific community and other stakeholders. Integrating MIR-HBM as a FAIR metadata schema into the FAIREHR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable Environmental and Health Registry) platform is the next key step planned to enable its implementation and adoption. Conclusions Overall, the MIR-HBM on HBM study metadata promotes transparency and completeness in reporting and enhances rapid capturing of the contents of the HBM study, thereby stimulating findability and accessibility to HBM data and supporting effective quality assessment.
- FAIREHR: A Novel Online Research Registry PlatformPublication . Galea, Karen S.The FAIREHR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable Environmental and Health Registry) is a state-of-the-art online registry platform designed to enhance the transparency, reproducibility, and comparability of environmental health research, focusing on human biomonitoring (HBM) studies as a starting point. This platform is developed in response to the Europe Regional Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe) HBM working group strategic objectives to generate high quality HBM by harmonising the data life cycle and implementation of FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) guiding principles. The registry enables preregistration of studies, capturing key metadata on study design, data management, and planned methods before recruitment od the participants. FAIREHR is the first registry tailored for HBM studies and is also first registry promoting FAIR by design studies. Benefits of FAIREHR include increased research visibility, improved data comparability, enhanced collaboration, and better-informed decision-making. We will discuss the unique propositions of FAIREHR, emphasizing its role in enhancing the exchange of information, with its implementation expected to yield significant benefits for researchers, policymakers, and public health through effective utilization of HBM data.
- Environmental Water as a Source of Fungal InfectionsPublication . Brandão, JoãoObjectives: The emergence of Candida auris has drawn international attention within the Fungi community, particularly in the context of environmental and occupational health, water management, and research. Currently, wastewater analysis is not limited to COVID-19 investigation but also encompasses other microbial factors like C. auris and Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed fungal taxa in its 2021 recreational water quality management guidelines, recognizing their significance. To enhance human health protection, these guidelines recommend monitoring beach sand for both bacterial indicators of fecal pollution and all fungi as a reflection of contamination levels, indicating the potential exposure of beachgoers to these microorganisms. In 2022, WHO reinforced the need to monitor fungi in national and supranational regulations, introducing a watch list of fungi of interest. Furthermore, Europe updated its Drinking Water Directive and proposed, in a side document designed to help Member-states implement the revised directive (state-of-play) the monitoring of fungi in public buildings used by immunocompromised patients, including hospitals and nursing homes. The objective of this communication is to outline an overview of the current trends of fungal analysis in water environments. Methods: Overview on international policy regulating the presence of fungi in water environments (drinking water, wastewater, coastal and inland recreational water, beach sand). Results: Fungi are missing from all regulation except drinking water in Sweden thus far. The WHO Guidelines for recreational quality recommend looking into fungi, where of relevance, and always on sand. Wastewater and environmental surveillance global initiative (Glowacon) has included fungi in its pathogen list. Conclusions: The recent developments on and categorisation of fungi have paved the way for the inclusion of fungi in water quality regulation, whether for drinking or recreational or wastewater.
- Sand quality as the new criterion of the new Blue Flag recreational water sites in Portugal - It's happening!Publication . Silva, Ana Margarida; Silva, Susana; Sarioglou, Konstantina; Vieira, Márcia; Gonçalves, Catarina; Brandão, JoãoIntroduction: The new WHO guidelines for the quality of bathing waters were published in June 2021, and the chapter on sands was significantly revised compared to the 2003 guidelines. They recommend monitoring enterococci with a provisional limit of 60 MPN/g and a guide value for the total fungal count of 90 CFU/g. The 60 MPN/g sand value was calculated through microbiological risk assessment as equivalent to the reference of 200 MPN/100ml of water, which corresponds to a maximum risk of 5% of developing disease from direct exposure. Based on these guidelines, Portugal’s Blue Flag program decided to implement a new quality criterion for bathing areas in 2024, called “Sand Quality Monitoring.” This criterion was tested for two years without being mandatory, and it was concluded that it would be a good addition to the list of criteria and would not pose a management issue for the beaches. On the contrary, it provides an additional and independent microbiological safety criterion for recreational users, separate from the monitoring of recreational water quality. To implement the new criterion, limits had to be designed for total fungi and E. coli, as the current European directive includes E. coli, and the guidelines for total fungi only provide a guide value, no safety limits. For fungi, the following was defined: 20% of rejection rate, considering the results of Brandão et al. (2021). This represent a guidance value of 89 CFU/g of total fungi in sand but a rejection limit of the 80% percentile, which is 420 CFU/g for coastal beaches and 1130 CFU/g for inland beaches. E. coli serves as an extra faecal indicator, with a reference value of 25 CFU/g (Sabino et al. 2011). Methods: Analytical methods are based on colony counting on sabouraud plates for all Fungi (Sabino et al. (2011)), Quanti-Tray® systems from IDEXXTM (IDEXX, Westbrook, MN, USA) or standard ISO methods (ISO 7899-2 (Boehm et al. 2009) and ISO 9308-1) for enterococci and E. coli and BACTERISK® (MolEndoTech, LTD, Brixham, UK) for the latter. Results (provisional): -Inland and transitional beaches (>1130 CFU/g): 14 out of 43 (32.6%); -Coastal beaches (>420 CFU/g): 17 out of 292 (5.8%) Discussion and conclusions: There is still not enough data to analyse seasonality and regionality comparatively, but…There doesn't seem to be a visible rationale for changes during the bathing season — too many factors influence sand quality and there’s little historical data. Maybe in the future. The values for fecal parameters in Mirandela are low and compliant, but…Total fungi values in Mirandela exceed the 2024 criteria: Homem do Leme, Gondarém and Mamoa exceeded the limits for enterococci contamination more than once; Beaches exceeding fungal limits more than once: Inland beaches: Mirandela, Fraga da Pegada, Ribeira, and Praia fluvial de Reguengos de Monsaraz; Coastal beaches: Homem do Leme, Foz, and Quebrada; Impact: This study shows that it is possible to include sand in the health protection aspects of recreational water quality without loss of the number of safe recreational sites.
- Deciphering a potential toxic synergy between persistent organic pollutantsPublication . Puskar, Ljiljana; Jordão, LuísaPlastic, massively used in everyday life, inevitably accumulates in the environment, becoming a persistent pollutant due to its reduced and/ or extremely slow recyclability1. Plastic particles in the micro and nano range, known as micro (MP) and nanoplastics (NP), respectively represent a huge ecotoxicological challenge. Due to their high surface areas, they might ad/absorb other persistent pollutants with similar chemical properties, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with unpredictable effects on persistence and distribution in the environment2. MPs/NPs, with or without pollutants ad/absorbed, could enter the trophic chain at the level of invertebrates, inflicting toxicological effects through all levels of the ecosystem3. Polystyrene MPs and PAHs previously found in water samples (e.g. fluoranthene, phenanthrene)4 and known to be adsorbed by MPs (Pyrene, benzo(a) pyrene)5 will be used in the study. PAH’s mixtures will be used to mimic environmental samples and single compounds will be used in order to understand the individual contribution of each compound for the observed toxic effect. This experimental approach will also allow to evaluate a potential synergy between compounds with effect on toxicity. Since PAHs and MPs have similar chemical properties, they are known to adsorb to each other. We will use PAHs adsorbed to MPs to test higher concentrations of PAHs (not soluble in aqueous solutions such as cell culture medium) and to document the intracellular distribution of adsorbed versus free PAHs. Concerning MPs only one material will be used at this stage. Polystyrene was selected because it is commercially available in spheres suitable for internalization by HepG2 cells and was previously isolated from environmental samples 4. This study could contribute to identify differences in toxicity and contribute to the elucidation of the underlying toxicity mechanisms using molecular biology protocols, light/electron microscopy and FTIR micro/spectrometry.
- Biofilms, Infection and Antimicrobials ResistancePublication . Jordao, LuisaBiofilm-associated infections are a public health concern especially in the context of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). These infections have often as aetiological agents microorganisms resistant to multiple antimicrobials and desinfection agents/ procedures. In this context is urgent to identify the reservoirs potential patogens in the healthcare unit in order to mitigate the impact of HAI. Here we focused on identifying potential pathogens in water, evaluating their susceptibility to antimicrobials and desinfectants on planktonic stage or organized in biofilms. In addition, the role played by biofilm assembly on catheter related bloodstream infections was assessed by a prospective observational study. The aetological agents and their susceptibility to antimicrobials were evaluated. For the most prevalent aetiological agents, staphylococci, whole genome sequecing was performed to confirm the isogenicity of the microorganisms isolated from the central venous catheter and the blood. Since biofilms are multimicrobial communities the biofilm assembly by the aetiological agents of a coinfection bloodstream infection were monitored in vitro.
- Catheter related bloodstream infection caused by E. cloacae and Candida parapsilosis: Are biofilms guilty?Publication . Štefánek, Matúš; Borges, Vítor; Wenner, Sigurd; Nogueira, Isabel D.; Pinto, Miguel; Faria, Isabel; Pessanha, Maria Ana; Veríssimo, Cristina; Sabino, Raquel; Rodrigues, João; Matias, Rui; Carvalho, Patrícia Almeida; Gomes, João Paulo; Bujdáková, Helena; Jordao, LuisaBiofilm-associated infections is a public health concern in the context of healthcare associated infections (HAI) such as catheter related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). Here the dynamics of two top ten etiological agents of CRBSI, Enterobacter cloacae and Candida parapsilosis isolated from a CRBSI’s patient, were studied to get insights on the role played by biofilms on this HAI. Antimicrobial susceptibility of CVC and HC’s isolates was evaluated according to EUCAST guidelines. Single and/or mixed biofilms assembled on different materials in Mueller-Hinton broth with 2% glucose were assessed by crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used for identification purposes and to assess microorganisms distribution within the biofilm (3D reconstruction) complemented with Focus Ion Beam (FIB)-SEM to assess biofilms assembled on the inner/outer CVC’s surfaces (tomograms). Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed for all isolates. All isolates were antimicrobial resistant. Of note E.cloacae resistance to collistin and an additional resistance of the CVC compared to HC-isolate (ceftolozame-tazobactam) probably linked to a mutation in rpoB gene. Candida resistance to fluconazol might be explained by ERG11 gene mutation. Enterobacter and Candida assembled biofilms on glass, polystyrene and polyurethane being mixed biofilms denser when both microorganism were present from the beginning. FISH and SEM analysis showed that biofilm bottom layer was in all cases richer in E.cloacae. Using environmental isolates of the same species we showed that this biofilm phenotype is not a general feature. Using polyurethane catheters (shape/material factor), denser mixed biofilms richer in EPS were observed. A distinct phenotype was present on the patient’s CVC by SEM and FIB/SEM. WGS confirmed the genetic identity of the pair CVC/HC isolates, while corroborating the virulence potential and observed antimicrobial resistant character of the studied CRBSI-driving pathogens. The results suggest that biofilms allow interaction and adaptation of microorganisms belonging to different kingdoms (Bacteria and Fungi). Adaptation might affect virulence in a transitory or permanent fashion, with potential impact on microorganisms’ potential to cause CRBSI.
- Indoor levels and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in Portuguese homesPublication . Slezakova, K.; Costa, C.; Valongo, C.; Teixeira, J.P.; Madureira, J.About indoor levels and health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in Portuguese homes.