Dr. Edina-Kriszta Szekeres

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Dr. Edina-Kriszta Szekeres

Senior Researcher II, ICB Cluj Scientific Sercetary
INSTITUTE OF BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH – ICB Cluj-Napoca

Environmental microbiologist studying the relationship between aquatic microbial communities, emerging contaminants, and antibiotic resistance. Focused on understanding microbial dynamics in relation to pollution and climate change.

Email:

edina.szekeres@icbcluj.ro

  • REASEARCH
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I am a researcher specialized in environmental science and molecular biology studies, encompassing a wide range of topics from freshwater biology to emerging contaminants. My research areas include:
  • Detection, quantification, and monitoring of antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and opportunistic pathogens in freshwater ecosystems.
 
  • Experimental approaches using batch culture, micro-, and mesocosm setups to study microbial interactions and their responses to environmental changes.
 
  • The influence of anthropogenic activities on aquatic microbial communities, mainly on ecosystem structure, dynamics, and functional roles.
    • ALERTERS (2023-2024): Project leader - determine source-specific alternative microbial and antibiotic resistance gene markers which can reliably evaluate the state of lotic ecosystems and possible sources of contamination.
     
    • PredAqua (2024-2026): Member - modelling freshwater planktonic mesocosm community and testing predictions in parallel in vitro and in silico experiments.
     
    • ANTIVERSA (2020-2023): Member – evaluating the potential of biodiversity as an ecological barrier for the spread of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance in the environment.
     
    • ADVANCE (2020-2023): Member –  adaptive evolution in marine algae under climate change and consequences for ocean services.
     
    • GROUNDWATERISK (2019-2023): Member – focused on monitoring and risk assessment for groundwater sources in rural communities of Romania.
     
    • EnviroAMR (2015-2016): Member – establishing a methodological guide for monitoring antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistance in the environment.
    • Klümper, U., Gionchetta, G., Catão, E., Bellanger, X., Dielacher, I., Elena, A.X., Fang, P., Galazka, S., Goryluk-Salmonowicz, A., Kneis, D., Okoroafor, U., Radu, E., Szadziul, M., Szekeres, E., Teban-Man, A., Coman, C., Kreuzinger, N., Popowska, M., Vierheilig, J., Walsh, F., Woegerbauer, M., Bürgmann, H., Merlin, C., Berendonk, T.U., 2024. Environmental microbiome diversity and stability is a barrier to antimicrobial resistance gene accumulation. Communications Biology, 7, 1–13. Doi: 1038/s42003-024-06338-8
     
    • Szekeres, E., Baricz, A., Cristea, A., Levei, E.A., Stupar, Z., Brad, T., Kenesz, M., Moldovan, O.T., Banciu, H.L., 2023. Karst spring microbiome: Diversity, core taxa, and community response to pathogens and antibiotic resistance gene contamination. Science of The Total Environment, 895, 165133. Doi: 1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165133
     
    • Teban-Man, A., Szekeres, E., Fang, P., Klümper, U., Hegedus, A., Baricz, A., Berendonk, T.U., Pârvu, M., Coman, C., 2022. Municipal Wastewaters Carry Important Carbapenemase Genes Independent of Hospital Input and Can Mirror Clinical Resistance Patterns. Microbiology Spectrum, 10. Doi: 1128/spectrum.02711-21
     
    • Szekeres, E., Chiriac, C.M., Baricz, A., Szőke-Nagy, T., Lung, I., Soran, M.-L., Rudi, K., Dragos, N., Coman, C., 2018. Investigating antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and microbial contaminants in groundwater in relation to the proximity of urban areas. Environmental Pollution, 236, 734–744. Doi: 1016/j.envpol.2018.01.107
     
    • Szekeres, E., Baricz, A., Chiriac, C.M., Farkas, A., Opris, O., Soran, M.-L., Andrei, A.-S., Rudi, K., Balcázar, J.L., Dragos, N., Coman, C., 2017. Abundance of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial community composition in wastewater effluents from different Romanian hospitals. Environmental Pollution, 225, 304–315. Doi: 1016/j.envpol.2017.01.054
     
    • Szekeres, E., Sicora, C., Dragoş, N., Drugă, B., 2014. Selection of proper reference genes for the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7002 using real-time quantitative PCR. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 359, 102–109. Doi: 1111/1574-6968.12574

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