A5048095051- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Fecal contamination and water quality
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Food Safety and Hygiene
- Infection Control in Healthcare
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Advanced Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithms
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
University of Basel
2017-2025
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute
2017-2025
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2016-2025
Airlangga University
2023
Sumatera Institute of Technology
2021-2023
Binus University
2023
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
2021
Johns Hopkins University
2011-2018
Stanford University
2009-2015
University of Guelph
2012
Environmental surveillance of surface contamination is an unexplored tool for understanding transmission SARS-CoV-2 in community settings. We conducted longitudinal swab sampling high-touch non-porous surfaces a Massachusetts town during COVID-19 outbreak from April to June 2020. Twenty-nine 348 (8.3%) samples were positive RNA, including crosswalk buttons, trash can handles, and door handles essential business entrances (grocery store, liquor bank, gas station). The estimated risk infection...
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 pandemic, is perceived to be primarily transmitted via person-to-person contact through droplets produced while talking, coughing, and sneezing. Transmission may also occur other routes, including contaminated surfaces; nevertheless, role that surfaces have on spread of disease remains contested. Here, we use Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment framework examine risks community transmission SARS-CoV-2 evaluate effectiveness hand surface...
Background: The effective reproductive number, Re, is a critical indicator to monitor disease dynamics, inform regional and national policies, estimate the effectiveness of interventions. It describes average number new infections caused by single infectious person through time. To date, Re estimates are based on clinical data such as observed cases, hospitalizations, and/or deaths. These temporarily biased when testing or reporting strategies change. Objectives: We show that dynamics severe...
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been shown to coincide with, or anticipate, confirmed COVID-19 case numbers. During periods with high test positivity rates, however, numbers may be underreported, whereas wastewater does not suffer from this limitation. Here we investigated how the dynamics of new infections estimated based on monitoring cases compare true incidence dynamics. We focused first pandemic wave in Switzerland (February April, 2020), when ranged up 26%. SARS-CoV-2 RNA loads...
Abstract The continuing emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants concern and interest emphasizes the need for early detection epidemiological surveillance novel variants. We used genomic sequencing 122 wastewater samples from three locations in Switzerland to monitor local spread B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta) P.1 (Gamma) at a population level. devised bioinformatics method named COJAC (Co-Occurrence adJusted Analysis Calling) that uses read pairs carrying multiple variant-specific signature...
Safe drinking water access is a human right, but data on safely managed services (SMDWS) lacking for more than half of the global population. We estimate SMDWS use in 135 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) at subnational levels with geospatial modeling approach, combining existing household survey available datasets. that only one three people used LMICs 2020 identified fecal contamination as primary limiting factor affecting almost population LMICs. Our results are relevant raising...
InfoMetricsFiguresRef. Environmental Science & TechnologyASAPArticle This publication is Open Access under the license indicated. Learn More CiteCitationCitation and abstractCitation referencesMore citation options ShareShare onFacebookX (Twitter)WeChatLinkedInRedditEmailJump toExpandCollapse ViewpointJanuary 28, 2025Strengthening Policy Relevance of Wastewater-Based Surveillance for Antimicrobial ResistanceClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!Sheena Conforti*Sheena ConfortiEawag,...
Little is known about the extent or pattern of environmental fecal contamination among households using low-cost, on-site sanitation facilities, what role plays in transmission diarrheal disease. A microbial survey and selected pathogens soil (n = 200), surface 120), produce samples 24) was conducted peri-urban Bagamoyo, Tanzania, 20 private pit latrines. All were analyzed for E. coli enterococci. subset enterovirus, rotavirus, norovirus GI, GII, diarrheagenic coli, general human-specific...
Escherichia coli pathotypes (i.e., enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic) have been identified among the pathogens most responsible for moderate-to-severe diarrhea in low- middle-income countries (LMICs). Pathogenic E. are transmitted from infected human or animal feces to new susceptible hosts via environmental reservoirs such as hands, water, soil. Commensal , which includes nonpathogenic strains, widely used fecal bacteria indicator, with their presence associated increased likelihood of...
Globally more than half a million children die every year from diarrheal diseases. This<italic>Perspective</italic>suggests that reductions in disease transmission LMICs can be achieved by accounting for site-specific factors when designing environmental interventions. This is discussed the context of characteristics most important diseases as well reservoirs.
As more countries engage in water reuse, either intended or de facto, there is an urgent need to comprehensively evaluate resulting environmental and public health concerns. While antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are increasingly coming under the spotlight, as emerging contaminants, existing reuse regulations guidelines do not adequately address these This perspectives paper seeks frame various challenges that be resolved identify meaningful realistic...
Abstract The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutants with altered transmissibility, virulence, or immunogenicity emphasizes the need for early detection and epidemiological surveillance genomic variants. Wastewater samples provide an opportunity to assess circulating viral lineages in community. We performed sequencing 122 wastewater from three locations Switzerland analyze B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1 variants on a population level. called variant-specific signature mutations monitored variant prevalence...
INTRODUCTION: Influenza infections are challenging to monitor at the population level due many mild and asymptomatic cases similar symptoms other common circulating respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Methods for tracking outside of typical reporting infrastructure could improve monitoring influenza transmission dynamics. shedding into wastewater represents a promising source information where quantification is unbiased by testing or treatment-seeking behaviours. METHODS: We quantified...
Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) offers a rapid, automated, and potentially on-site method for quantifying L. pneumophila in building potable water systems, complementing replacing traditional culture-based techniques. However, its application assessing human health risks is complicated by tendency to overestimate due the detection of genomic copies unassociated with viable, infectious bacteria. This study examines relationship between measurements via qPCR methods, aiming...
Aims: Virus transfer between individuals and fomites is an important route of transmission for both gastrointestinal respiratory illness. The present study examines how direction transfer, virus species, time since last handwashing, gender, titre affect viral fingerpads glass. Methods Results: Six hundred fifty-six total events, performed by 20 volunteers using MS2, ϕX174, fr indicated 0·23 ± 0·22 (mean standard deviation) readily transferred on contact. significantly influenced species...
To characterize mechanisms of hand contamination with faecal indicator bacteria and to assess the presence selected pathogens on mothers' hands in Tanzania.A household observational study combined repeated microbiological rinse sampling was conducted among 119 mothers Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All samples were analysed for enterococci Escherichia coli, genetic markers Bacteroidales, enterovirus pathogenic E. coli.Using toilet, cleaning up a child's faeces, sweeping, dishes, preparing food...
This study utilized pyrosequencing-based phylogenetic library results to assess bacterial communities on the hands of women in Tanzania and compared these with bacteria assemblages US women. Bacterial population profiles phylogenetically based ordinate analysis demonstrated that were more similar for selected populations within a country than between two countries considered. Organisms have commonly been identified prior human skin microbiome studies, including members Propionibacteriaceae,...
Viral evolutionary pathways are determined by the fitness landscape, which maps viral genotype to fitness. However, a quantitative description of landscape and forces on it remain elusive. Here, we apply biophysical model based capsid folding stability antibody binding affinity predict pathway norovirus escaping neutralizing antibody. The is validated experimental evolution in bulk culture drop-based microfluidics that propagates millions independent small subpopulations. We demonstrate...
Abstract Background The effective reproductive number, Re, is a critical indicator to monitor disease dynamics, inform regional and national policies, estimate the effectiveness of interventions. It describes average number new infections caused by single infectious person through time. To date, Re estimates are based on clinical data such as observed cases, hospitalizations, and/or deaths. These temporarily biased when testing or reporting strategies change. Objectives We show that dynamics...
Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic highlighted the need for more rapid and routine application of modeling approaches such as quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) protecting public health. QMRA is a transdisciplinary science dedicated to understanding, predicting, mitigating infectious risks. To better equip researchers inform policy health management, an Advances in Research workshop was held synthesize path forward research. We summarize insights from 41 experts...
The role of fomites in infectious disease transmission relative to other exposure routes is difficult discern due, part, the lack information on level and distribution virus contamination surfaces. Comparisons studies intending fill this gap are because multiple different sampling methods employed authors rarely report their method's lower limit detection. In present study, we compare a subset identified from literature review demonstrate that method significantly influences study outcomes....