From Sewage to Safety - Digital PCR's Role in Tracking Microbial Threats to Support Public Health

Explore how digital PCR technology transforms wastewater surveillance into a powerful public health monitoring tool in this 18-minute webinar. Learn about molecular biology applications that analyze wastewater samples to track infection dynamics of respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and RSV, as demonstrated through Vienna's multi-seasonal monitoring program. Discover how wastewater serves as a societal mirror, providing insights into pathogen circulation and antibiotic resistance gene spread in bacterial populations. Examine the quantitative analysis capabilities of digital PCR for precise and reliable data collection that supports infection surveillance and antimicrobial resistance tracking efforts. Understand the research methodologies employed at TU Wien's "Molecular microbiology in sanitary engineering" group, including innovative molecular biological approaches for investigating microbial communities and processes in wastewater treatment and surface water bodies. Gain insights into how environmental science intersects with public health through wastewater-based epidemiology, particularly focusing on health-relevant applications such as pathogen surveillance and antibiotic resistance monitoring in aquatic environments.