A Part of REPARES secondment internships, researchers get involved in learning and contributing to understanding antibiotic resistance in the environment (wastewater) and finding solutions to stop or reduce its progression. 

In this event, UCT, Prague, Czech Republic, and Wetsus, Leeuwarden, Netherlands, met again where Jan Bartacek (UCT), Lucia Hernandez-Leal (Wetsus), Dana Vejmelkova  (UCT), Bukola Lois Ojobe (UCT), Sam Rutten (Wetsus), and Veerle Levering (Wetsus) met to discuss the collaborative opportunities for both groups in the subset of greywater treatment and recycling.  

Bukola ‘Lois’ Ojobe, a 3rd Ph.D. student working on removing pollutants in greywater, will be moving to Wetsus for a six-month internship working with Sam Rutten, a 2nd year Ph.D. student, and Veerle Levering, a masters student focusing on the effective use of nanofiltration for greywater recycling. 

Seminar on the methods for ARB detection organized by REPARES proceeded for three days from 25.1. to 27.1.2021 (10:00-12:45). On Monday (25.1.) we focused on the phenotyping cultivation methods for the detection of ARB. The introductory lecture about these methods was given by dr. Sabina Purkrtová (UCT Prague). Consequently, Assoc. Prof. Lucia Bírošová (the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava) demonstrated their use for the study of ARB in wastewater in her lecture brilliantly. An extremely interesting discussion followed these lectures, in which discussion we were able to welcome also Assoc. Prof. Helena Žemličková (NIPH CZ - National Institute for Health Protection). On Tuesday (26.1.) we continued with lectures on MALDI-TOF MS usage for the identification of microorganisms and the detection of SNP mutations in ARG. In these lectures dr. Sabina Purkrtová (UCT Prague) explained the principles and presented her practical laboratory experiences and protocols. The third and last day, Wednesday (27.1.). was devoted to MALDI-TOF MS again, but this time to its usage as the tool for the detection of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Prof. Jaroslav Hrabák (Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University) presented in his interesting and very broad lecture the history, development, principles, benefits, and limits of these applications. Ing. Milada Šolcová (UCT Prague) then presented her laboratory experience with MALDI-TOF MS detection of beta-lactamase activity. The very deep and vivid discussion then completed this seminar.

Dear non-academic partner/John (please, insert the name of your potential partner or friend)

On behalf of EU-funded project REPARES, I would like to invite you to become part of our REPARES platform, which aims at advancing know-how on antimicrobial resistance in the urban water cycle.

Can we add you to our contact list?

The REPARES project aspires to bring excellence in research on the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wastewater treatment plants through establishing cooperation between leading European innovators and internationally renowned experts of the water-related antibiotic resistance field. Currently, University of chemistry and technology in Prague, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa, Delft University of Technology, Aalborg University, and Wetsus, the European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology, are active members of this consortium. We want to grow and involve non-academic partners in the public and private sectors.

The REPARES platform – one of the main products of the REPARES project – will offer space for the exchange of know-how between academia, industry and public stakeholders, act as a melting pot for the creation of new ideas and projects, and facilitate education and public debate on the spread of antibiotic resistance. The main activities will include organizing seminars, workshops, and public events, forming inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary research consortia, and realizing joint ARG-related research on every level of complexity.

We would like to add you to our contact list, where you can get invitations to workshops, seminars, and other initiatives that are organized by (or in cooperation with) REPARES around the topic of AMR. For more information on these events, please visit our website http://repares.vscht.cz/. In addition, you may receive our regular newsletter.

Please let us know, whether you are interested in reacting to this email.

Kind regards,

On behalf of REPARES