Aquatic environmental DNA: A review of the macro-organismal biomonitoring revolution.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is the fastest growing biomonitoring tool fuelled by two key features: time efficiency and sensitivity. Technological advancements allow rapid biodiversity detection at both species and community levels with increasing accuracy. Concurrently, there has been a global demand to standardise eDNA methods, but this is only possible with an in-depth overview of the technological advancements and a discussion of the pros and cons of available methods.

Comparison of materials for rapid passive collection of environmental DNA.

Passive collection is an emerging sampling method for environmental DNA (eDNA) in aquatic systems. Passive eDNA collection is inexpensive and efficient, and requires minimal equipment, making it suited to high-density sampling and remote deployment. Here, we compare the effectiveness of nine membrane materials for passively collecting fish eDNA from a 3-million-litre marine mesocosm.

Genomics and transcriptomics yields a system-level view of the biology of the pathogen Naegleria fowleri.

Background: The opportunistic pathogen Naegleria fowleri establishes infection in the human brain, killing almost invariably within 2 weeks. The amoeba performs piece-meal ingestion, or trogocytosis, of brain material causing direct tissue damage and massive inflammation. The cellular basis distinguishing N.

Passive eDNA collection enhances aquatic biodiversity analysis.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a sensitive and widely used approach for species detection and biodiversity assessment. The most common eDNA collection method in aquatic systems is actively filtering water through a membrane, which is time consuming and requires specialized equipment. Ecological studies investigating species abundance or distribution often require more samples than can be practically collected with current filtration methods.

Application of untargeted metabolomics for the detection of pathogenic Naegleria fowleri in an operational drinking water distribution system.

Found in drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs), swimming pools, and recreational waters, N. fowleri, is the causative agent of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Although cases of N.

Preferential feeding in Naegleria fowleri; intracellular bacteria isolated from amoebae in operational drinking water distribution systems.

The amoeba Naegleria fowleri is the causative agent of the highly fatal disease, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, and estimated to cause 16 deaths per year in the United States alone. Colonisation of drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) by the N. fowleri is a significant public health issue.

Competition between Naegleria fowleri and Free Living Amoeba Colonizing Laboratory Scale and Operational Drinking Water Distribution Systems.

Free living amoebae (FLA), including pathogenic Naegleria fowleri, can colonize and grow within pipe wall biofilms of drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). Studies on the interactions between various FLA species in biofilms are limited. Understanding the interaction between FLA and the broader biofilm ecology could help better predict DWDS susceptibility to N.

Abundance of Naegleria fowleri in roof-harvested rainwater tank samples from two continents.

Roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) has been used as an alternative source of water in water scarce regions of many countries. The microbiological and chemical quality of RHRW has been questioned due to the presence of bacterial and protozoan pathogens. However, information on the occurrence of pathogenic amoeba in RHRW tank samples is needed due to their health risk potential and known associations with opportunistic pathogens.

Development of Untargeted Metabolomics Methods for the Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Naegleria fowleri.

Despite comparatively low levels of infection, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) induced by Naegleria fowleri is extremely lethal, with mortality rates above 95%. As a thermophile, this organism is often found in moderate-to-warm climates and has the potential to colonize drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). Current detection approaches require days to obtain results, whereas swift corrective action can maximize the benefit of public health.

Elimination of Naegleria fowleri from bulk water and biofilm in an operational drinking water distribution system.

Global incidence of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis cases associated with domestic drinking water is increasing. The need for understanding disinfectant regimes capable of eliminating the causative microorganism, Naegleria fowleri, from bulk water and pipe wall biofilms is critical. This field study demonstrated the successful elimination of N.

Reduced Efficiency of Chlorine Disinfection of Naegleria fowleri in a Drinking Water Distribution Biofilm.

Naegleria fowleri associated with biofilm and biological demand water (organic matter suspended in water that consumes disinfectants) sourced from operational drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) had significantly increased resistance to chlorine disinfection. N. fowleri survived intermittent chlorine dosing of 0.