Biomonitoring

In February 2026, we had the pleasure of hosting Sara Ribeirinho Soares (PhD student) from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

Sara’s research focuses on understanding how operational conditions in conventional activated sludge (CAS) wastewater treatment systems shape microbial community dynamics and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Working with lab-scale reactors operating continuously, like within a full-scale wastewater treatment plant, fed with real wastewater, she investigates the impact of sludge retention time (SRT) and temperature on bacterial community structure, as well as on the abundance and dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) by combining physicochemical monitoring with molecular and bioinformatics approaches.

During her stay, Sara took training in DNA sequencing techniques, bioinformatics, and metagenomic data analysis. It was nice to host Sara in our group, and we hope to see her soon!

As part of the research project “The role of urban recreational reservoirs in the accumulation, dissemination and horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes”, led by Dr. Przemysław Decewicz, our team conducted a yearly field sampling campaign across selected urban lakes in Poland. We collected surface water and sediment samples for comprehensive microbiological, chemical, and molecular analyses. Urban reservoirs are often exposed to various anthropogenic pressures, making them potential hotspots for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Our studies will focus on identifying and quantifying antibiotic resistance genes, assessing their ability to transfer horizontally, and investigating the environmental conditions that may promote their persistence in these ecosystems.