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

‍Introduction to the environmental dimension of antibiotic resistance

Upcoming Webinar

‍World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2020

Dana Vejmelkova is doing her short research visit (March-August 2020) at Wetsus, in collaboration with Lucia Hernandez Leal, Heike Schmitt, Rebeca Pallares-Vega, Eri van Heijnsbergen, and Bianca de Vries. Dana participates in the investigation of the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the Vecht river (part of the MEDUWA-Vecht(e) project). She evaluates the quantity of 24 antibiotic resistance genes in the catchment and determines the influence of WWTPs and agriculture.

“I am glad I joined the Wetsus team. Despite my visit happens during COVID-19 time, I am gaining many useful experience and skills. Next to the project meetings, we have weekly Antibiotic resistance group meetings where all participants share their progress and support each other. Wetsus also organizes many events and does its best to keep people (socially) connected (e.g. online “pub” quiz and workouts).

We would like to invite you to a conference organized within bilateral initiative shAMRock – shocking antimicrobial resistance. The conference will take place on 12th May 2020 at University of Chemistry and Technology Prague

 Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are claimed to be hotspots for antimicrobial resistance and can be an important threat to human health. Antimicrobial resistance in WWTPs is even more dangerous as the resistance genes can be transferred from environmental bacteria to pathogens and create an even higher risk for the wellbeing of citizens. Therefore, scope of the conference is monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater treatment plants - approaches and methods, results and perspectives.

There is no registration fee

The authors cover their own costs (travel, accommodation, etc.) to attend the conference.

Procedure for Submission is described here https://tvp.vscht.cz/research/projects-grants/50582/50844?ecrof&jazyk=en#novinka_detail25803388051713.

Submissions are welcome from 1st March 2020 and must be received before 31st March 2020. The submitted abstracts will be peer-reviewed.

Notification of acceptance will be sent before 10th April 2020. At least one author of each selected paper must register and attend the conference to present the paper (poster or platform presentation).

Conference invitation

Aleksandra Miłobędzka on 27^th Jan 2020 started working with Célia M. Manaia, Ana Catarina Ferreira, Joana Silva, Ivone Vaz-Moreira, Jaqueline Rocha and Adrian Górecki at UCP Porto during short research visit „Developments on the monitoring of the antibiotic resistance and associated genetic elements in environmental samples“. Aleksandra will stay at UCP till the end of April, till that time she is going to optimize protocol for IS26 in activated sludge using qPCR, get familiar with UCP’s research groups and labs, collaborate in great, sunny atmosphere and enjoy Portuguese culture.

On January 21-23, 2020, REPARES Seminar 1" on the DNA isolation took place in Delft, The Netherlands. 

The seminar was hosted by David Weissbrodt and Mark Van Loosdrech from the Faculty of Applied Sciences of TU Delft. The practical part was guided by David Calderon and Ben Abbas.

Invited speakers Bruno Bicudo Perez, Ron Dirks, and Thomas Abeel gave an excellent insight on antibiotic resistance in water matrices.

On Tuesday, October 1, 2019, all 5 partners of the newly launched REPARES project have met at the UCT Prague for their Kick-off meeting. 

Members from UCT Prague, TU Delft, Aalborg University, Universidade Catolica Portuguesa and Wetsus company have met to discuss their point of view on antibiotic resistance in wastewater and successfully started their new Horizon 2020 Twinning project.