Climate Change Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Climate Change, including details on causes, effects, impact, facts, myths, information.

Molecular assessment of bacterial pathogens-a contribution to drinking water safety.

Brettar I, Höfle MG

Department of Vaccinology and Applied Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre of Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstr. 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany.

Human bacterial pathogens are considered as an increasing threat to drinking water supplies worldwide because of the growing demand of high-quality drinking water and the decreasing quality and quantity of available raw water. Moreover, a negative impact of climate change on freshwater resources is expected. Recent advances in molecular detection technologies for bacterial pathogens in drinking water bear the promise in improving the safety of drinking water supplies by precise detection and identification of the pathogens. More importantly, the array of molecular approaches allows understanding details of infection routes of waterborne diseases, the effects of changes in drinking water treatment, and management of freshwater resources.

Published 20 June 2008 in Curr Opin Biotechnol, 19(3): 274-80.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Climate Change Research Today. All Rights Reserved.