DETERMINATION, SOURCE TRACKING AND INACTIVATION OF MICROBIAL PATHOGENS IN NATURAL WATERS

Abstract

The evaluation of the microbiological quality of natural waters still remains one of the biggest challenges despite concerns over protection of human health from illnesses, caused by consumption of water harboring microbial pathogens. The failures that lead to the spread of waterborne diseases are relatively common, and typically involve inadequate microbial detection methods, atmospheric deposition of pathogens through frequent and intense rainfall and inadequate disinfection processes. This doctoral thesis aimed at providing a deep understanding of the total bacterial diversity and quantity of specific bacterial pathogens in freshwater resources and possible sources of microbial contaminants. Assessment of the effectiveness of any disinfection process and regular monitoring of water quality for bacterial pathogens is extremely crucial to prevent the occurrence of waterborne outbreaks. Consequently, the thesis also aimed at developing a simple, inexpensive and rapid detection method based on fluorescent dye for assessing disinfection efficiency and bacterial presence in natural waters. In addition, treatment of natural waters using a safe and novel microbial inactivation approach based on gene silencing is also discussed.