Project leader: Dr. Edina Szekeres
Program Operator: UEFISCDI
Project Code: PN-III-P1-1.1-PD-2021-0529 (Postdoc project)
Contract number: PD 74 ⁄ 2022
Project Duration: 2023-2024
Budget: 249.997 RON (approx. 50.301 Euro)
Context: Unveiling Hidden Contaminants in Water:
Surface water, a vital resource for diverse purposes, is prone to contamination, posing a significant risk to public health. Despite advanced treatment processes, infectious water-related diseases persist, escalating global concerns and economic burdens. The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance intensifies the need to identify contaminated environments.
Challenges and Solutions:
Pathogens enter surface waters from various sources, necessitating innovative assessment techniques. Microbial source tracking (MST) and alternative indicators offer a promising avenue. MST discerns bacterial sources, while alternative indicators, detectable within four hours, enhance precision.
Project Objective:
The ALERTERS project seeks source-specific microbial and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) markers for accurate lotic ecosystem assessment. Through direct detection and validation against conventional markers, we aim to revolutionize water quality assessment. Join us in unraveling hidden contaminants and safeguarding our water resources.