Univ.-Prof. PD. Dr. Andreas Farnleitner, MSc.Tox.

Curriculum Vitae

AHF and his research group is focusing on the development, evaluation and application of new concepts and methods for microbial water quality investigations, monitoring and management of water resources (e.g., drinking, bathing, irrigation). AHF holds a full professorship at the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in close cooperation with the TU Wien, leading the Research Division Water Quality and Health. He is an active and well known member of many national and international organisations and specialist groups in the field. He is also Co-Lead of the ICC Water & Health.
AHF holds master diplomas in microbiology and ecology from the University of Vienna, a doctorate in molecular microbial diagnostics and a professorial qualification in environmental microbiology (Habilitation) from TU Wien, and a postdoctoral master diploma in toxicology from the Medical University of Vienna.
He has been principal investigator of more than 50 research projects, collaborating with scientific partners as well as the water management sector. AHF is a frequent speaker at conferences and has published more than 200 scientific articles.

Expert Activities (selected)

2009–dato Faculty member of the “Vienna Doctoral Program of Water Resource Systems”.
2011–2021 Editor of “Water Science and Technology”, IWA, London, UK.
2015–dato Editor of the “Global Water Pathogens Project” in cooperation with UNESCO, WHO, and J. Rose, Michigan State University, USA.
2015–2019 Expert member of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Water Quality and Health, Technical Advisory Group (WQTAG), Geneva, Switzerland.
2016–dato Expert member of the Technical Advisory Group “Drinking Water Quality and Treatment” of the Austrian Association for Gas and Water (ÖVGW).
2012–dato Co-head of the Expert Group “Microbiology and Water”, Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV).

Organizations (selected)

2019–dato Heading the Specialist Group “Water Quality and Hygiene” of the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV).
2017–dato Executive Board Member of the Health-Related Water Microbiology Group (HRWM) of the International Water Association (IWA).
2013–dato Vice-head of the Expert Group “Microbiology & Hygiene”, International Association for Danube Research (IAD), Vienna, Austria.
2010–2022 Executive Board member of the “Willie Grabow” International Young Investigator Award, Health-Related-Water-Quality-Group, IWA, London, UK.

+43 2732 720 90 390

andreas.farnleitner@kl.ac.at

Publications

2022
- Book
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Kirschner, A.K.T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B. & Zibuschka, F. hrsg., 2022. ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich.
    Link
- Book Chapter
  - Demeter, K., Stadler, P., Vogl, W., Savio, D., Derx, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Zessner, M. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Vollautomatisierte, schiffsgestützte Messungen der Enzymaktivität zur flächendeckenden Identifizierung von Hotspots fäkaler mikrobiologischer Einträge in großen Gewässern. In A. H. Farnleitner, Kirschner, A. K. T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B., & Zibuschka, F. (Hrsg.): ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband, Wien, S. 20-24.
    Link
  - Derx, J., Linke, R., Savio, D., Emelko, M., Schmidt, P., Schijven, J., Pang, L., Sommer, R., Stevenson, M., van den Berg, H., Rutjes, S., Farnleitner, A.H. & Blaschke, A.Paul, 2022. From Groundwater to Drinking Water – Current Approaches for Microbial Monitoring and Risk Assessment in Porous Aquifers. In T. Mehner & Tockner, K. (Hrsg.): Encyclopedia of Inland Waters (Second Edition). 2022/01/01/. Oxford: Elsevier, S. 580-594.
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  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Frick, C. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Klassifizierung und Herkunftsbestimmung fäkaler Verunreinigungen in Oberflächengewässern am Beispiel der Donau. In A. H. Farnleitner, Kirschner, A. K. T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B., & Zibuschka, F. (Hrsg.): ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband, Wien, S. 16-19.
    Link
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Rehm, C., Vierheilig, J. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139: ein „Emerging Pathogen“ in Badegewässern im Zuge des Klimawandels. In A. H. Farnleitner, Kirschner, A. K. T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B., & Zibuschka, F. (Hrsg.): ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband, Wien, S. 11-15.
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  - Reszler, C., Stadler, H., Sommer, R., Zerobin, W. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Ereignisbezogene automatisierte Probenahme zur Darstellung der mikrobiologischen Dynamik in Karstquellen. In A. H. Farnleitner, Kirschner, A. K. T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B., & Zibuschka, F. (Hrsg.): ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband, Wien, S. 25-29.
    Link
  - Savio, D., Eiler, A., Reischer, G., Linke, R., Parajka, J., Blaschke, A.P., Mach, R.L., Blöschl, G., Kirschner, A.K.T. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Das Potenzial der DNA-basierten, hochauflösenden Bakteriengemeinschaftsanalytik für die Beurteilung des mikrobiologischen Zustands eines Gewässers am Beispiel der Donau. In A. H. Farnleitner, Kirschner, A. K. T., Frick, C., Proksch, P., Vogl, W., Schauer, U., Schrammel, B., & Zibuschka, F. (Hrsg.): ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf 52, Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 2: Fallstudien zur Illustration der neuen diagnostisch-analytischen Möglichkeiten. Wien, Österreich: Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband, Wien, S. 46-52.
    Link
- Conference Paper
  - Campostrini, L., Demeter, K., Jakwerth, S., Linke, R., Derx, J., Blaschke, A.P., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2022. Presentation: Automated flow cytometry for near real-time monitoring of bacteria in drinking water resources: an example of an alpine karstic spring. In Alpenflow 2022. 18.–21.5.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
  - Demeter, K., Farnleitner, A.H., Linker, R., Blanch, A., Balleste, E., Rose, J. & Ahmed, W., 2022. Vortrag: Hat die DNA/RNA-Diagnostik fäkaler Belastungen die mikrobiologisch-hygienische Qualitätsanalyse von Wasser bereits revolutioniert?. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
    Link
  - Derx, J., Demeter, K., Komma, J., Parajka, J., Schijven, J., Sommer, R., Cervero-Arago, S., Lindner, G., Zoufal-Hruza, C., Linke, R., Savio, D., Kirschner, A.K.T., Kromp, H., Blaschke, A. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Vortrag: Anforderungen an einen ausreichenden Infektionsschutz bei der Trinkwassernutzung entlang eines von Abwasser beeinflussten großen Flusses: eine Modellszenarien-Analyse. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
    Link
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Steinbacher, S.D., Kolm, C., Winischhofer, S., Novak, P., Wildt, S., Ertl, T. & Sommer, R., 2022. Vortrag: Risikoabschätzung und Kommunikation zu SARS-CoV-2 im Abwasser für die Österreichische Wasserwirtschaft: ein Rückblick zur gewählten Vorgangsweise. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
    Link
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Vogl, W. & Proksch, P., 2022. Vortrag: Die neuen faszinierenden Möglichkeiten der Methodik: Vorstellung Arbeitsbehelf. In ÖWAV, Mikrobiologie und Wasser: Was DNA- & RNA-Analytik bereits alles für uns leisten. 14.6.2022. Wien, Österreich.
    Link
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Lindner, G., Jakwerth, S., Vierheilig, J., van Driezum, I., Derx, J., Blaschke, P., Savio, D. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2022. Vortrag: Kultivierungsbasierte und kultivierungsunabhängige Methoden zur Bewertung der biologischen Stabilität von Grundwasser am Beispiel eines porösen Grundwasserleiters eines Flussuferfiltrationssystems. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
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  - Koller, M., Nürnberger, J., Hack, K., Dielacher, I., Wachter, J., Hoffer, B., Kohlmaier, S., Hagendorfer, C., Kapic, M., Gütl, J., Arsenijevic, P., Schachner, I., Jakwerth, S., Kolarevic, S., Kracun-Kolarevic, M., Toth, E., Savio, D., Farnleitner, A.H., Kittinger, C., Kirschner, A.K.T. & Zarfel, G., 2022. Vortrag: Die Donau: human-induzierte Antibiotikaresistenzen der Enterobacteriaceae- Populationen im Vergleich. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
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  - Kolm, C., Cervenka, I., Baumann, N., Aschl, U., Sommer, R., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G., 2022. Vortrag: Entwicklung neuartiger molekularer Detektionsmoleküle für hygienerelevante Bakterien in Wasser. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
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  - Rehm, C., Kolm, C., Jakwerth, S., Pleininger, S., Herger, F., Lippert, K., Indra, A., Hein, T., Farnleitner, A.H., Reischer, G. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2022. Vortrag: Vibrio cholerae (non O1/non O139) in Badeseen: Nachweis, Quantifizierung und Vorhersage. In ÖGHMP 37. Jahrestagung. 31.5.-2.6.2022. Bad Ischl, Österreich.
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- Journal Article
  - Ahmed, W., Simpson, S.L., Bertsch, P.M., Bibby, K., Bivins, A., Blackall, L.L., Bofill-Mas, S., Bosch, A., Brandão, J., Choi, P.M., Ciesielski, M., Donner, E., D'Souza, N., Farnleitner, A.H., Gerrity, D., Gonzalez, R., Griffith, J.F., Gyawali, P., Haas, C.N., Hamilton, K.A., Hapuarachchi, H.Chanditha, Harwood, V.J., Haque, R., Jackson, G., Khan, S.J., Khan, W., Kitajima, M., Korajkic, A., La Rosa, G., Layton, B.A., Lipp, E., McLellan, S.L., McMinn, B., Medema, G., Metcalfe, S., Meijer, W.G., Mueller, J.F., Murphy, H., Naughton, C.C., Noble, R.T., Payyappat, S., Petterson, S., Pitkänen, T., Rajal, V.B., Reyneke, B., Roman, F.A., Rose, J.B., Rusiñol, M., Sadowsky, M.J., Sala-Comorera, L., Setoh, Y.Xiang, Sherchan, S.P., Sirikanchana, K., Smith, W., Steele, J.A., Sabburg, R., Symonds, E.M., Thai, P., Thomas, K.V., Tynan, J., Toze, S., Thompson, J., Whiteley, A.S., Wong, J.Chui Ching, Sano, D., Wuertz, S., Xagoraraki, I., Zhang, Q., Zimmer-Faust, A.G. & Shanks, O.C., 2022. Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance. Science of The Total Environment, 805.
  - Kolarevic, S., Micsinai, A., Szanto-Egesz, R., Lukacs, A., Kračun-Kolarević, M., Djordjević, A., Vojnović-Milutinović, D., Marić, J.Jovanović, Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H., Linke, R., Đukic, A., Kostić-Vuković, J. & Paunović, M., 2022. Wastewater-based epidemiology in countries with poor wastewater treatment - Epidemiological indicator function of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in surface waters. The Science of the total environment, S.156964.
  - Weigelhofer, G., Leopold, M., Akbari, E., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2022. Was bringen Ufergehölze für die Wasser- und Sedimentqualität von Bächen in landwirtschaftlichen Regionen?. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft.
2021
- Book Chapter
  - Dielacher, I., Hack, K., Jakwerth, S., Kolarevic, S., Kračun-Kolarević, M., Toth, E., Savio, D., Farnleitner, A.H., Kittinger, C., Kirschner, A.K.T., Zarfel, G. & Koller, M., 2021. Occurence of non-wild type antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli in the River Danube. In Joint Danube Survey 4 Scientific Report: A shared Analysis of the Danube River. Vienna, S. 193-198.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Schachner, I., Jakwerth, S., Savio, D., Toth, E., Kolarevic, S., Kračun-Kolarević, M., Zarfel, G.E., Kittinger, C., Koller, M., Ixenmaier, S., Linke, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Microbial faecal pollution and source tracking. In Joint Danube Survey 4 Scientific Report: A shared Analysis of the Danube River. Vienna, S. 183-192.
  - Sanseverino, I., A Cuenca, N., Lahm, A., Petrillo, M., Fabbri, M., L Cortes, G., Farnleitner, A.H., Kirschner, A.K.T., Zarfel, G., Zaccara, S. & Lettieri, T., 2021. Microbiome: Microbial community and environmental DNA analysis. In Joint Danube Survey 4 Scientific Report: A shared Analysis of the Danube River. Vienna, S. 199-212.
- Conference Paper
  - Derx, J., Blaschke, A.P., Demeter, K., Kirschner, A.K.T., Linke, R., Sommer, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Präsentation: Fäkale Kontaminationen von Wasser und Dimensionierung des Infektionsschutzes im Zeitalter von PCR-Analytik und Dosis-Wirkungs-Modellierung. In forum.grabenlos Die grabenlose Konferenz der Zukunft. 28.09.2021. Technische Universität Wien.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Blaschke, A., Demeter, K., Kirschner, A.K.T., Linke, R., Sommer, R. & Derx, J., 2021. Präsentation: Gefährdungs- und Risikoabschätzung fäkaler Kontaminationen von Wasser im Zeitalter von PCR-Analytik und Dosis-Wirkungs- Modellierung. In Österreichische Gesellschaft für Arbeitsmedizin - Jahrestagung. 30.9.-2.10.2021. Graz, Österreich.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Demeter, K. & Linke, R., 2021. Presentation: Current trends in microbial (fecal) source tracking (MST): a short overview. In Singapore International Water Week 2021. 21.6.-2.7.2021. online.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Steinbacher, S.D., Winischhofer, S., Kolm, C. & Sommer, R., 2021. Präsentation: Gefährdungspotential fäkalbürtiger SARS-CoV-2 Partikel im (Ab)wasser: eine Meta-Analyse zum Stand des Wissens. In Kanal- und Kläranlagen- Nachbarschaften im ÖWAV. 8.9.-9.9.2021. Hagenberg, Österreich.
  - Kolm, C., Reischer, G.H., Martzy, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Presentation: Molecular faecal pollution diagnostics and source tracking: new approaches and future possibilities for rapid, inexpensive and on-site applicable water quality test systems. In 13th Rapid Methods Europe (RME2021). 01.-03.02.2021. Online.
- Journal Article
  - Balleste, E., Blanch, A.R., Mendez, J., Sala-Comorera, L., Maunula, L., Monteiro, S., Farnleitner, A.H., Tiehm, A., Jofre, J. & García-Aljaro, C., 2021. Bacteriophages Are Good Estimators of Human Viruses Present in Water. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12(973).
  - Demeter, K., Derx, J., Komma, J., Parajka, J., Schijven, J., Sommer, R., Cervero-Aragó, S., Lindner, G., Zoufal-Hruza, C.M., Linke, R., Savio, D., Ixenmaier, S.K., Kirschner, A.K.T., Kromp, H., Blaschke, A.P. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Modelling the interplay of future changes and wastewater management measures on the microbiological river water quality considering safe drinking water production. Science of The Total Environment, 768.
  - Derx, J., Demeter, K., Linke, R., Cervero-Aragó, S., Lindner, G., Stalder, G., Schijven, J., Sommer, R., Walochnik, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Komma, J., Blaschke, A.P. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Genetic Microbial Source Tracking Support QMRA Modeling for a Riverine Wetland Drinking Water Resource. Frontiers in microbiology, 12, S.668778.
  - Derx, J., Komma, J., Reiner, P., Vierheilig, J., Savio, D., Sommer, R., Kirschner, A.K.T., Frick, C., Linke, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Blaschke, A.Paul, 2021. Using hydrodynamic and hydraulic modelling to study microbiological water quality issues at a backwater area of the Danube to support decision-making. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Lindner, G., Jakwerth, S., Vierheilig, J., van Driezum, I.H., Derx, J., Blaschke, A.Paul, Savio, D. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Assessing biological stability in a porous groundwater aquifer of a riverbank filtration system: combining traditional cultivation-based and emerging cultivation-independent in situ and predictive methods. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Vierheilig, J., Flemming, H.-C., Wingender, J. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. How dead is dead? Viable but non-culturable versus persister cells. Environmental microbiology reports.
    Link
  - Kolarevic, S., Micsinai, A., Szanto-Egesz, R., Lukacs, A., Kračun-Kolarević, M., Lundy, L., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H., Djukic, A., Colic, J., Nenin, T., Sunjog, K. & Paunović, M., 2021. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Danube River in Serbia associated with the discharge of untreated wastewaters. The Science of the total environment, 783, S.146967.
  - Linke, R.B., Zeki, S., Mayer, R., Keiblinger, K., Savio, D., Kirschner, A.K.T., Reischer, G.H., Mach, R.L., Sommer, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Identifying Inorganic Turbidity in Water Samples as Potential Loss Factor During Nucleic Acid Extraction: Implications for Molecular Fecal Pollution Diagnostics and Source Tracking. Frontiers in microbiology, 12, S.660566.
  - Mushi, D., Kebede, G., Linke, R.B., Lakew, A., Hayes, D.S., Graf, W. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Microbial faecal pollution of river water in a watershed of tropical Ethiopian highlands is driven by diffuse pollution sources. Journal of Water and Health.
  - Oudega, T.J., Lindner, G., Derx, J., Farnleitner, A.H., Sommer, R., Blaschke, A.P. & Stevenson, M.E., 2021. Upscaling Transport of Bacillus subtilis Endospores and Coliphage phiX174 in Heterogeneous Porous Media from the Column to the Field Scale. Environmental science & technology.
  - Steinbacher, S.D., Savio, D., Demeter, K., Karl, M., Kandler, W., Kirschner, A.K.T., Reischer, G.H., Ixenmaier, S.K., Mayer, R.E., Mach, R.L., Derx, J., Sommer, R., Linke, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2021. Genetic microbial faecal source tracking: rising technology to support future water quality testing and safety management. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft.
  - Youngblut, N.D., Reischer, G.H., Dauser, S., Maisch, S., Walzer, C., Stalder, G., Farnleitner, A.H. & Ley, R.E., 2021. Vertebrate host phylogeny influences gut archaeal diversity. Nature Microbiology.
2020
- Conference Paper
  - Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Präsentation: E. coli und Enterokokken – mögliche Eintragspfade in die Wasserversorgung. In Österreichische Vereinigung für das Gas- und Wasserfach ÖVGW Wasser-Forum digital. 24.11.2020. Online.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Präsentation: Wasserqualität & Gesundheit. Internationale Herausforderungen & Möglichkeiten. In Europäisches Forum Alpbach. 28.08.2020. Alpbach, Österreich.
  - Kolm, C., Reischer, G.H., Martzy, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Presentation: Molecular fecal pollution diagnostics for water quality testing: From polymerase chain reaction to rapid isothermal amplification to detect genetic fecal markers. In Analytica Virtual 2020. 19.-23.10.2020. Munich, Germany.
- Journal Article
  - Balleste, E., Belanche-Munoz, L.A., Farnleitner, A.H., Linke, R., Sommer, R., Santos, R., Monteiro, S., Maunula, L., Oristo, S., Tiehm, A., Stange, C. & Blanch, A.R., 2020. Improving the identification of the source of faecal pollution in water using a modelling approach: From multi-source to aged and diluted samples. Water research, 171, S.115392.
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  - Chik, A.H.S., Emelko, M.B., Anderson, W.B., O'Sullivan, K.E., Savio, D., Farnleitner, A.H., Blaschke, A.P. & Schijven, J.F., 2020. Evaluation of groundwater bacterial community composition to inform waterborne pathogen vulnerability assessments. Science of The Total Environment, S.140472.
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  - Demeter, K., Burnet, J.-B., Stadler, P., Kirschner, A.K.T., Zessner, M. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Automated online monitoring of fecal pollution in water by enzymatic methods. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health.
  - Frick, C., Vierheilig, J., Nadiotis-Tsaka, T., Ixenmaier, S., Linke, R., Reischer, G.H., Komma, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Mach, R.L., Savio, D., Seidl, D., Blaschke, A.P., Sommer, R., Derx, J. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Elucidating fecal pollution patterns in alluvial water resources by linking standard fecal indicator bacteria to river connectivity and genetic microbial source tracking. Water Research, S.116132.
  - Kebede, G., Mushi, D., Linke, R.B., Dereje, O., Lakew, A., Hayes, D.S., Farnleitner, A.H. & Graf, W., 2020. Macroinvertebrate indices versus microbial fecal pollution characteristics for water quality monitoring reveals contrasting results for an Ethiopian river. Ecological Indicators, 108.
  - Kolm, C., Cervenka, I., Aschl, U.J., Baumann, N., Jakwerth, S., Krska, R., Mach, R.L., Sommer, R., DeRosa, M.C., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2020. DNA aptamers against bacterial cells can be efficiently selected by a SELEX process using state-of-the art qPCR and ultra-deep sequencing. Scientific Reports, 10(1).
  - Linke, R.B., Kebede, G., Mushi, D., Lakew, A., Hayes, D.S., Graf, W. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2020. Assessing the faecal source sensitivity and specificity of ruminant and human genetic microbial source tracking markers in the central Ethiopian highlands. Letters in Applied Microbiology, n/a(n/a).
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  - Youngblut, N.D., de la Cuesta-Zuluaga, J., Reischer, G.H., Dauser, S., Schuster, N., Walzer, C., Stalder, G., Farnleitner, A.H. & Ley, R.E., 2020. Large-Scale Metagenome Assembly Reveals Novel Animal-Associated Microbial Genomes, Biosynthetic Gene Clusters, and Other Genetic Diversity. mSystems, 5(6).
2019
- Book Chapter
  - Kolarevic, S., Kračun-Kolarević, M., Jovanovic, J., Ilić, M., Paunović, M., Kostić-Vuković, J., Martinović, R., Jokanović, S., Joksimovic, D., Pešić, V., Kirschner, A.K.T., Linke, R., Ixenmaier, S., Farnleitner, A.H., Savio, D., Reischer, G., Tomić, N. & Vuković-Gačić, B., 2019. Microbiological Water Quality of Rivers in Montenegro. In The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.
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  - Linke, R.B., Stadler, P., Reischer, G.H., Savio, D., Kollanur, D., Mayer, R., Mach, R.L., Kirschner, A.K.T., Sommer, R., Derx, J., Stadler, H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Using genetic microbial source tracking (MST) markers to identify fecal pollution sources in spring water of a large alpine karst catchment. In J. B. Rose & Jiménez-Cisneros, B. (Hrsg.): Global Water Pathogen Project. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State UniversityUNESCO.
- Conference Paper
  - Demeter, K., Derx, J., Schijven, J., Sommer, R., Cervero-Arago, S., Lindner, G., Zoufal-Hruza, C., Linke, R.B., Savio, D., Ixenmaier, S.K., Kirschner, A.K.T., Tomenendal, A., Blaschke, A.P. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Poster: Effect of climatic and demographic changes and the upgrading of wastewater infrastructure on the bacterial faecal pollution of a large river and on the associated health risks. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Frick, C., Vierheilig, J., Zornig, H., Antensteiner, R., Baumgartner, C., Bucher, C., Blaschke, A.P., Derx, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Ryzinska-Paier, G., Mayer, R., Seidl, D., Nadiotis-Tsaka, T., Sommer, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Presentation: Poikilothermic animals as a previously unrecognized source of fecal indicator bacteria. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Kilic, H.S., Cervero-Arago, S., Frick, C., Linke, R.B., Schijven, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Lindner, G., Walochnik, J., Sommer, R., Blaschke, A.P., Farnleitner, A.H. & Derx, J., 2019. Poster: Sources, Transport Paths and Infection Risks during the use of Urban Surface Waters for Recreational Activities. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Lepuschitz, S., Larvor, E., Granier, S.A., Pretzer, C., Mach, R.L., Farnleitner, A.H., Ruppitsch, W., Pleininger, S., Indra, A. & Baron, S., 2019. Poster: Antimicrobial resistance properties within a Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-139 population from a large Austrian lake. In 8th Biennial International Conference on the Biology of Vibrios (ICBV). November 17-20, 2019. Montreal, Canada.
  - Lindner, G., Gmeiner, E., Knetsch, S., Lettl, A., Holzhammer, E., Farnleitner, A.H. & Sommer, R., 2019. Poster: Proliferation potential – Drinking water: Standardization and quality assurance. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Linke, R.B., Zeki, S., Mayer, R., Keiblinger, K., Mach, R.L., Derx, J., Sommer, R., Reischer, G.H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Poster: Loss of DNA to surface - reactive matrix compounds during extraction - the need for comprehensive process controls in molecular diagnostics of water samples. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Oudega, T.J., Lindner, G., Farnleitner, A.H., Sommer, R., Kerber, G. & Blaschke, A.P., 2019. Poster: Comparison of removal rates for Bacillus subtilis spores for different flow conditions. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Rehm, C., Vierheilig, J., Kolm, C., Jakwerth, S., Hein, T., Farnleitner, A.H., Reischer, G.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2019. Poster: Quantification and prediction of Vibrio cholerae nonO1/nonO139 in bathing waters. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Rehm, C., Vierheilig, J., Kolm, C., Jakwerth, S., Pleininger, S., Indra, A., Hein, T., Farnleitner, A.H., Reischer, G.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2019. Poster: Quantification and predication of Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 in bathing waters. In 8th Biennial International Conference on the Biology of Vibrios (ICBV). November 17-20, 2019. Montreal, Canada.
  - Reischer, G.H., Youngblut, N.D., Walters, W., Schuster, N., Walzer, C., Stalder, G., Ley, R.E. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Presentation: Factors shaping the intestinal microbiome of vertebrate faecal sources: unravelling the role of diet and host phylogeny. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Savio, D., Karl, M., Stadler, P., Reischer, G.H., Demeter, K., Linke, R.B., Blaschke, A.P., Mach, R.L., Kirschner, A.K.T., Stadler, H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Poster: High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for the characterisation of the drinking water microbiome from an alpine karst spring. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Savio, D., Vierheilig, J., Karl, M., Houdek, J., Jakwerth, S., Fiedler, F., Goll, T., Brandl, H., Kandler, W., Sommer, R., Kirschner, A.K.T. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Poster: Combining flow cytometric and taxonomic analysis of bacterial community dynamics to study the biostability of drinking water resources – Part 2: High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Vierheilig, J., Savio, D., Jakwerth, S., Karl, M., Goll, T., Fiedler, F., Brandl, H., Kandler, W., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2019. Poster: Combining flow cytometric and taxonomic analysis of bacterial community dynamics to study the biostability of drinking water resources – Part 1: Flow cytometric determination of microbial cell numbers. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
  - Vierheilig, J., Savio, D., Jakwerth, S., Karl, M., Sommer, R., Lindner, G., Knetsch, S. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Presentation: Flow cytometric analysis of microbial growth dynamics to determine the biostability of drinking water resources. In Visions in Cytometry - 29th Annual Conference of the German Society for Cytometry (DGfZ). 25.-27.09.2019. Berlin, Germany.
  - Zoufal-Hruza, C., Frick, C., Derx, J., Savio, D., Seidl, D., Nadiotis-Tsaka, T., Sommer, R., Blaschke, A.P. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Poster: Infectious Enterovirus in the Danube River. In 20th International Symposium on Health-Related Water Microbiology (HRWM). 15-20 September 2019. Vienna, Austria.
- Journal Article
  - Herzig, A., Hatvani, I.G., Tanos, P., Blaschke, A.P., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2019. Mikrobiologisch-hygienische Untersuchungen am Neusiedler See – von der Einzeluntersuchung zum Gesamtkonzept. Österreichische Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaft, 71(11-12), S.537-555.
  - Kolm, C., Martzy, R., Fuhrer, M., Mach, R.L., Krska, R., Baumgartner, S., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2019. Detection of a microbial source tracking marker by isothermal helicase-dependent amplification and a nucleic acid lateral-flow strip test. Scientific reports, 9, S.393.
  - Lepuschitz, S., Baron, S., Larvor, E., Granier, S.A., Pretzer, C., Mach, R.L., Farnleitner, A.H., Ruppitsch, W., Pleininger, S., Indra, A. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2019. Phenotypic and Genotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Traits of Vibrio cholerae Non-O1/Non-O139 Isolated From a Large Austrian Lake Frequently Associated With Cases of Human Infection. Front Microbiol, 10, S.2600.
  - Martzy, R., Bica-Schroder, K., Palvolgyi, A.Mark, Kolm, C., Jakwerth, S., Kirschner, A.K.T., Sommer, R., Krska, R., Mach, R.L., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2019. Simple lysis of bacterial cells for DNA-based diagnostics using hydrophilic ionic liquids. Scientific reports, 9, S.13994.
  - Martzy, R., Kolm, C., Krska, R., Mach, R.L., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2019. Challenges and perspectives in the application of isothermal DNA amplification methods for food and water analysis. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, 411, S.1695-1702.
  - Savio, D., Stadler, P., Reischer, G.H., Demeter, K., Linke, R.B., Blaschke, A.P., Mach, R.L., Kirschner, A.K.T., Stadler, H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Spring Water of an Alpine Karst Aquifer Is Dominated by a Taxonomically Stable but Discharge-Responsive Bacterial Community. Frontiers in microbiology, 10, S.28.
  - Sommer, R., Blaschke, A.P., Holzhammer, E., Cervero-Arago, S., Lindner, G., Haider, T. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Hygienische Anforderungen für die Einleitung von Kläranlagenabläufen in Badegewässer. Wiener Mitteilungen, 249, S.209-228.
  - Stadler, P., Bloschl, G., Nemeth, L., Oismuller, M., Kumpan, M., Krampe, J., Farnleitner, A.H. & Zessner, M., 2019. Event-transport of beta-d-glucuronidase in an agricultural headwater stream: Assessment of seasonal patterns by on-line enzymatic activity measurements and environmental isotopes. The Science of the total environment, 662, S.236-245.
    Link
  - Stadler, P., Loken, L.C., Crawford, J.T., Schramm, P.J., Sorsa, K., Kuhn, C., Savio, D., Striegl, R.G., Butman, D., Stanley, E.H., Farnleitner, A.H. & Zessner, M., 2019. Spatial patterns of enzymatic activity in large water bodies: Ship-borne measurements of beta-D-glucuronidase activity as a rapid indicator of microbial water quality. The Science of the total environment, 651, S.1742-1752.
    Link
  - van Driezum, I.H., Derx, J., Oudega, T.J., Zessner, M., Naus, F.L., Saracevic, E., Kirschner, A.K.T., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Blaschke, A.P., 2019. Spatiotemporal resolved sampling for the interpretation of micropollutant removal during riverbank filtration. The Science of the total environment, 649, S.212-223.
  - Youngblut, N.D., Reischer, G.H., Walters, W., Schuster, N., Walzer, C., Stalder, G., Ley, R.E. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2019. Host diet and evolutionary history explain different aspects of gut microbiome diversity among vertebrate clades. Nature communications, 10, S.2200.
2018
- Book Chapter
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Savio, D., Sommer, R., Reischer, G., Kirschner, A.K.T., Zerobin, W. & Stadler, H., 2018. Integrated strategy to guide health-related microbial quality management at alpine karstic drinking water resources. In W. White, Herman, J., Herman, E., & Rutigliano, M. (Hrsg.): Karst Groundwater Contamination and Public Health. Advances in Karst Science. Springer, Cham, S. 185-192.
    Link
- Conference Paper
  - Blaschke, A.P. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Präsentation: GWRS Vienna 2010 – 2018: die wesentlichen Fakten. In GWRS-Symposium der Österreichischen Vereinigung im Gas- und Wasserfach (ÖVGW). 7. November 2018. Wien, Österreich.
  - Bogner, D.A., Mayer, R., Reischer, G.H., Farnleitner, A.H. & Linke, R.B., 2018. Poster: Introducing an internal process control for the application of quantitative PCR in health-related water quality monitoring. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Farnleitner, A.H. & Blaschke, A.P., 2018. Präsentation: Das Infektionsschutzkonzept von morgen: sichere Wasserversorgung im 21. Jahrhundert. In GWRS-Symposium der Österreichischen Vereinigung im Gas- und Wasserfach (ÖVGW). 7. November 2018. Wien, Österreich.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Präsentation: Analytik fäkaler mikrobiologischer Verunreinigungen im Zeitalter der Molekularbiologie. In ÖWAV Seminar: Aktuelle biologische Methoden und Verfahren in der Wassergütewirtschaft. 27.-28. Feber 2018. Wien, Österreich.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Präsentation: Qualitätsziele im Wandel – am Beispiel der Mikrobiologie: Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Grundwasserschutz. In ÖWAV Seminar: Der Grundwasserschutz in Österreich: Herausforderungen, Entwicklungen und neue Ansätze. 7. März 2018. Wien, Österreich.
  - Farnleitner, A.H., Savio, D., Jakwerth, S., Ixenmaier, S.K., Toth, E., Sommer, R., Linke, R.B., Mach, R.L., Kolarevic, S., Reischer, G.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2018. Präsentation: Nachweis und Herkunftsbestimmung fäkaler Verschmutzungen im Zeitalter der molekular-biologischen Diagnostik am Beispiel der Donau. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7. Juni 2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Glassner, T., Linke, R.B., Farnleitner, A.H., Waldhör, K. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2018. Poster: Cultivation-independent diagnostics of microbial contamination of explanted knee and hip prostheses from sonication fluids. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Horejs, J., Jakwerth, S., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2018. Poster: Cell-based detection of abundant faecal indicator bacteria in water. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Karl, M., Linke, R.B., Ixenmaier, S.K., Sommer, R., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H. & Savio, D., 2018. Poster: Vergleichende Analyse mitochondrialer und bakterieller Marker für die Herkunftsbestimmung fäkaler Verunreinigungen in Trinkwasserressourcen mittels quantitativer PCR. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Präsentation: Online-Überwachung der bakteriellen Zellzahlen – Neue Methoden und Einsatzmöglichkeiten. In GWRS-Symposium der Österreichischen Vereinigung im Gas- und Wasserfach (ÖVGW). 7. November 2018. Wien, Österreich.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., van Driezum, I.H., Jakwerth, S., Lindner, G., Farnleitner, A.H., Sommer, R. & Blaschke, A.P., 2018. Präsentation: Räumlich-zeitliche Schwankungen der bakteriellen Biomasse und Aktivität im Grundwasser eines hochdynamischen Uferfiltrationssystems, das zur Trinkwassergewinnung genutzt wird. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7. Juni 2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Kolm, C., Martzy, R., Führer, M., Mach, R.L., Krska, R., Baumgartner, S., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2018. Presentation: Tracking ruminant fecal pollution in water by isothermal amplification and a disposable strip test. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7. Juni 2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Lindner, G., Gemeiner, E., Knetsch, S., Lettl, A., Holzhammer, E., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H. & Sommer, R., 2018. Poster: Vermehrungspotenzial - Trinkwasser: Standardisierung und Qualitätssicherung. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Martzy, R., Kolm, C., Mach, R.L., Krska, R., Jakwerth, S., Kirschner, A.K.T., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2018. Poster: A field-deployable concept for the rapid molecular detection of fecal contamination in water. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Savio, D., Stadler, P., Zessner, M. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Presentation: Status quo and future challenges in automated enzymatic activity determination in water. In 12th Rapid Methods Europe RME2018. 05-07 November 2018. Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
  - Scott, S., Brown, L., Franklin, J., Farnleitner, A.H. & Crozier, J.B., 2018. Poster: A novel barcode-analysis of bovine-fecal contaminated waters using leuB DNA sequence variation in Bacteroides species. In 36. Jahrestagung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Hygiene, Mikrobiologie und Präventivmedizin. 4.-7.6.2018. Graz, Österreich.
  - Sommer, R., Lindner, G., Gmeiner, E., Holzhammer, E., Cervero-Arago, S., Schmalwieser, A., Hirschmann, G., Haider, T. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Presentation: Health-related Inactivation Requirements For UV-irradiated Wastewater Effluents Discharged Into Recreational Surface Water. In IWA World Water Conference & Exhibition. 16-21 September 2018. Tokyo, Japan.
- Journal Article
  - Bliem, R., Reischer, G., Linke, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2018. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Vibrio cholerae in Turbid Alkaline Lakes as Determined by Quantitative PCR. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 84.
  - Frick, C., Vierheilig, J., Linke, R., Savio, D., Zornig, H., Antensteiner, R., Baumgartner, C., Bucher, C., Blaschke, A.P., Derx, J., Kirschner, A.K.T., Ryzinska-Paier, G., Mayer, R., Seidl, D., Nadiotis-Tsaka, T., Sommer, R. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Poikilothermic Animals as a Previously Unrecognized Source of Fecal Indicator Bacteria in a Backwater Ecosystem of a Large River. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 84.
  - Hatvani, I.G., Kirschner, A.K.T., Farnleitner, A.H., Tanos, P. & Herzig, A., 2018. Hotspots and main drivers of fecal pollution in Neusiedler See, a large shallow lake in Central Europe. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, S.28884-28898.
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Pleininger, S., Jakwerth, S., Rehak, S., Farnleitner, A.H., Huhulescu, S. & Indra, A., 2018. Application of three different methods to determine the prevalence, the abundance and the environmental drivers of culturable Vibrio cholerae in fresh and brackish bathing waters. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 125, S.1186-1198.
  - Mayer, R., Karl, M., Linke, R., Kirschner, A.K.T., Reischer, G., Sommer, R., Zessner, M., Savio, D. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Analytik fäkaler mikrobiologischer Verunreinigungen im Zeitalter der molekularbiologischen Diagnostik. Wiener Mitteilungen , 247, S.47-54.
  - Mayer, R., Reischer, G.H., Ixenmaier, S.K., Derx, J., Blaschke, A.P., Ebdon, J.E., Linke, R., Egle, L., Ahmed, W., Blanch, A.R., Byamukama, D., Savill, M., Mushi, D., Cristobal, H.A., Edge, T.A., Schade, M.A., Aslan, A., Brooks, Y.M., Sommer, R., Masago, Y., Sato, M.I., Taylor, H.D., Rose, J.B., Wuertz, S., Shanks, O.C., Piringer, H., Mach, R.L., Savio, D., Zessner, M. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Global Distribution of Human-Associated Fecal Genetic Markers in Reference Samples from Six Continents. Environmental Science & Technology, 52, S.5076-5084.
  - Savio, D., Stadler, P., Reischer, G.H., Kirschner, A.K.T., Demeter, K., Linke, R., Blaschke, A.P., Sommer, R., Szewzyk, U., Wilhartitz, I.C., Mach, R.L., Stadler, H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2018. Opening the black box of spring water microbiology from alpine karst aquifers to support proactive drinking water resource management. WIREs Water, 5, S.e1282.
  - van Driezum, I.H., Chik, A.H.S., Jakwerth, S., Lindner, G., Farnleitner, A.H., Sommer, R., Blaschke, A.P. & Kirschner, A.K.T., 2018. Spatiotemporal analysis of bacterial biomass and activity to understand surface and groundwater interactions in a highly dynamic riverbank filtration system. Science of the Total Environment, 627, S.450-461.
2017
- Book Chapter
  - Farnleitner, A.H. & Blanch, A.R., 2017. Microbial Indicators - “Workhorses” in the Field of Health-related Water Quality Testing. In J. B. Rose & Jiménez-Cisneros, B. (Hrsg.): Global Water Pathogen Project. East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State UniversityUNESCO.
- Journal Article
  - Kirschner, A.K.T., Reischer, G.H., Jakwerth, S., Savio, D., Ixenmaier, S., Toth, E., Sommer, R., Mach, R.L., Linke, R., Eiler, A., Kolarevic, S. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2017. Multiparametric monitoring of microbial faecal pollution reveals the dominance of human contamination along the whole Danube River. Water Research, 124, S.543-555.
  - Kittinger, C., Kirschner, A.K.T., Lipp, M., Baumert, R., Mascher, F., Farnleitner, A.H. & Zarfel, G.E., 2017. Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter spp. Isolates from the River Danube: Susceptibility Stays High. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15.
  - Kolm, C., Martzy, R., Brunner, K., Mach, R.L., Krska, R., Heinze, G., Sommer, R., Reischer, G.H. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2017. A Complementary Isothermal Amplification Method to the U.S. EPA Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for the Detection of Enterococci in Environmental Waters. Environmental Science & Technology, 51, S.7028-7035.
  - Martzy, R., Kolm, C., Brunner, K., Mach, R.L., Krska, R., Sinkovec, H., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Reischer, G.H., 2017. A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of Enterococcus spp. in water. Water Research, 122, S.62-69.
  - van Driezum, I.H., Derx, J., Saracevic, E., Kirschner, A.K.T., Sommer, R., Farnleitner, A.H. & Blaschke, A.P., 2017. Does Pumping Volume Affect the Concentration of Micropollutants in Groundwater Samples?. Groundwater Monitoring & Remediation, 37, S.82-88.
    Link
  - Zibuschka, F., Kirschner, A.K.T., Frick, C., Lindner, G., Reischer, G., Lendenfeld, T., Vogl, W., Schauer, U. & Farnleitner, A.H., 2017. Mikrobiologie und Wasser - Teil 1: Übersicht zu den methodischen Möglichkeiten der Analyse. ÖWAV-Arbeitsbehelf. Österreichischer Wasser- und Abfallwirtschaftsverband (ÖWAV), 52.

Research Projects

Future Danube
The microbiological water quality of the Danube: healthy recreational environments and a safe drinking water supply towards the next decades
- Project Number: LS19-016
- Project Lead: Andreas Farnleitner, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health
- Project Partner: Technische Universität Wien / Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management, Medical University of Vienna / Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Lower Austrian Government / Department of Water
- Duration: 36 months starting from 01.10.2021
Background
Rivers play an essential role in supporting human health by supplying water for human consumption or irrigation and
providing natural environments for recreation. Rivers serve also as important receiving water bodies for communal
sewage disposal, imposing microbial faecal pollution hazards and a need for target-oriented health risk management.
Due to a limited research methodology in the past, very little is known on the health-related challenges rivers will face
due to global change phenomena (e.g. climatic, demographic, economic and technical changes, potential emerging
threats such as the growing navigation industry). The proposed project will establish a new cutting-edge combination of
microbiological and molecular biological parameters for river water of human-impacted large river catchments, allowing
the robust calibration and verification of health-related water quality simulation tools. Genetic microbial source tracking
markers for bacterial and viral faecal pollution and standardized indicators will be applied in concert for water quality
investigations. The recently developed simulation tool QMRAcatch will be used for faecal pollution and health-related
water quality modelling. A multidisciplinary team of scientists, governmental water and health experts, as well as
experienced practitioners from a leading water supply utility will formulate scenarios of timely and hitherto unsolved
global change problems for human-impacted large rivers. In a first step, the defined scenarios will be simulated to
predict health-related water quality challenges for the Danube River at the Lower Austrian section. In a second step, the
detailed information from the Danube River will be used to extrapolate to other representative European large river
locations. The ultimate aim of the project is to establish a basic scientific understanding concerning the health-related
microbiological water quality aspects of river water resources, facing future global change phenomena. The project will
also guide optimal water quality management strategies and bring the latest research developments to the Lower
Austrian governmental bodies and local authorities as well as water suppliers. The established methodology will also be
of great interest for riverine water resources outside Europe, guiding sustainable health-related management in a vastly
changing world.
VIWA 2020+
Vienna Water Ressource Systems 2020+
- Project Lead: Andreas Farnleitner, Technische Universität Wien / Research Center Water and Health
- Project Partner: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health, Medical University of Vienna / Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Stadt Wien / MA 39, Prüf-, Inspektions- und Zertifizierungsstelle
- Duration: 96 months starting from 01.02.2021
RIBUST – Efficiency of riparian strips for the protection of water quality
Efficiency of RIparian BUffer Strips to protect water quality against impacts from land use and climate change
- Project Number: K3-F-130/005-2019
- Project Lead: Gabriele Weigelhofer, WasserCluster Lunz
- Project Partner: Federal Agency for Water Management / Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna / Institute of Soil Research, Tulln
- Duration: 48 months starting from 01.03.2020
SIWAWI – Challenges for municipal water management
Future material and microbiological challenges for the municipal water supply and sanitation
- Project Number: GZ B900384
- Project Lead: Philipp Hohenblum, Environment Agency Austria
- Project Partner: Technische Universität Wien / Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management, Graz University of Technology / Institute of Urban Water Management and Landscape Water Engineering, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna / Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health
- Duration: 30 months starting from 01.10.2019
Whole-Danube-River AMR
Fecal pathways of antibiotic resistance spread along the entire Danube River
- Project Number: P32464-B
- Project Lead: Alexander Kirschner, Medical University of Vienna / Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology
- Project Partner: Medical University Graz, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health
- Duration: 48 months starting from 11.06.2019
Background
Understanding fecal pollution sources as propagation pathways of antimicrobial resistance in the Danube
River: Establishing a quantitative whole river approach
The increase in antimicrobial resistances is a global threat to human and animal health. Outside of
hospitals, where multi-resistant bacteria are an acute problem, the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria
(ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) into aquatic ecosystems is of growing importance, especially
in large river systems.
In this project, the River Danube - the second longest river in Europe and most international river in the world
- shall be investigated along its whole length, as well as its most important tributaries to assess the major
sources, propagation pathways and driving factors influencing the occurrence and spreading of ARB and
ARG. A new holistic, quantitative approach will be applied to test the following hypotheses: (i) In the water
compartment, the abundance of ARB and ARG is coupled to the extent of fecal pollution and further depend
on their persistence in the environment and the hydrological conditions. (ii) In biofilms and fine sediments,
ARB and ARG abundance are uncoupled from the extent of fecal pollution. Accumulation of ARB and ARG
occurs, dependent on specific ecological selection factors and qualitative changes of the fecal pollution
input. (iii) The patterns of ARB and ARG abundance may be different even between closely related species
and using only one bacterial model organism leads to a biased image of the occurrence and spread of
antibiotic resistances in aquatic environments.
The new concept is based on the quantification of ARB and ARG in multiple bacterial targets, determined in
the water and biofilm compartment by a combination of cultivation-based and DNA-based approaches. This
information will be combined with quantitative data on the extent and sources of fecal pollution and with a
comprehensive assessment of the environmental conditions obtained during the Joint Danube Survey (JDS),
the world´s biggest river research expedition. This river survey will be followed by a one-year survey at
selected critical sites. By this, the results will provide a comprehensive picture and promote new ideas to
understand and manage microbial water quality and antibiotic resistance at large rivers, fulfilling fundamental
requirements of the research agenda defined for water, sanitation and antimicrobial resistance of the WHO
Global Action Plan and the EU Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance.
The project will be led by Alexander Kirschner (Medical University Vienna), an expert in health-related water
microbiology, who has already coordinated the microbiology program of the two previous JDS. He will be
supported by the team of Andreas Farnleitner, the head of the Division Water Quality and Health at the Karl
Landsteiner University for Health Sciences at Krems, a top specialist in fecal pollution diagnostics and
microbial source tracking. All antibiotic resistance analysis will be coordinated by Gernot Zarfel and
Clemens Kittinger (Medical University Graz), who already were cooperation partners during the last JDS.
AQUASCREEN – Biostability of water
Development of a pioneering water investigation procedure for the drinking water supply of tomorrow
- Project Number: WST3-F-5031298/001-2017/K3-W-47/007-2017
- Project Lead: Andreas Farnleitner, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health
- Project Partner: EVN Wasser GmbH, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna / Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics
- Duration: 32 months starting from 01.09.2018
Background
The biostability of water, i.e. the ability to store and distribute water without negative microbiological quality changes, is a crucial aspect in public water supply. Biostability is important for the esthetical characteristics of water (e.g. good taste and appearance) and it is essential to protect public health (i.e. conditions to not support the growth of facultative pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The methods for the determination of biostability of water still suffer from major technical shortcomings and require significant future improvements.
Due to a permanent increase of ground water temperature, caused by the global change (on average 0.05C° per year), growth of facultative pathogens is likely increasing in drinking water. The improved possibility to analyze and predict the growth potential of facultative pathogens in ground- and drinking water is thus becoming more important.
This research project aims to develop and evaluate a new innovative approach to determine the biostability of ground- and drinking water by using up-to-date high-throughput DNA sequencing technology to screen and predict for bacterial population changes. To enable the tracking of biochemical key-processes in water supply, the possibility to combine the “basic module” with high-resolution chemical analysis will be determined as well. The main focus of AQUASCREEN is directed towards drinking water recourses which have significance in Lower Austria (i.e. well water, spring water, ground water).
Milestone 1: Established experimental approach for the determination of the bacterial growth potential in ground- and drinking water based on flow cytometry and high-throughput DNA sequencing (“basic module”).
Milestone 2: Analysis and evaluation of the new possibilities based on a case study with relevance for drinking water supply and comparison of results with traditional approaches.
Milestone 3: Identified development needs to combine the “basic module” with high-resolution chemical analysis (advanced module “biogeochemistry”) and to detect and differentiate the growth potential of facultative pathogens, as detected by culture-based methods (advanced module “facultative pathogens”).
The aim of this research proposal is to overcome the methodical limitations of the past and to successfully establish a new strategy supporting the reproducible and straightforward determination of biostability and its prediction in ground- and drinking water. Results of this research will support the development of new practical determination systems (prototypes).
REEgain – Biological recycling of environmentally hazardous substances
Sustainable biological recycling of environmentally hazardous substances (Rare Earth Elements) from electronic waste and wastewater
- Project Number: Interreg ATCZ172
- Project Lead: Dominik Schild, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems / Department of Life Sciences
- Project Partner: Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health, Mikrobiologický ústav AVČR, Zentrum ALGATECH, Danube University Krems / Center for Biomedical Technology, Saubermacher Dienstleistungs AG, Stark GmbH, Městská Vodohospodářská s.r.o.
- Duration: 48 months starting from 01.07.2018
Background
Rare earths are used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers and energy-saving bulbs. However, they are scarce and cannot be recycled using eco-friendly methods. Complex and expensive mining, coupled with scarce supply, means that the prices of rare earths on the world market are rising steadily. Due to continuous technical advances, we can already predict that the supply situation for rare earths will become critical in future, which in turn could pose a threat to the development of innovative technologies.
The project partners aim to counter this trend using a new technology. This involves an approach that has never been used before: recycling by means of microorganisms (bacteria and algae). The goal of the international project partner consortium is to develop a practicable recycling technology in collaboration with regional industry, with a view to reclaiming rare earths from electronic waste and subsequently making the technology available to businesses. The consortium liaises regularly with its strategic partners, which guarantees that market needs and the technological limitations of business are taken into account in the development process.
AQUASAFE – Water quality monitoring of the future
Water Quality Monitoring of the Future - Genetic Fecal Markers for the Detection and Determination of Source of Fecal Traces
- Project Number: SC15-016
- Project Lead: Andreas Farnleitner, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health
- Project Partner: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna / Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Technische Universität Wien / Institute of Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, EVN Wasser GmbH
- Duration: 41 months starting from 01.09.2017
Background
Molecular faecal pollution diagnostics, based on the detection of genetic faecal microbial source tracking (MST) markers, is about to revolutionise water quality testing. Such applications have been mainly focusing within the fields of recreational water quality monitoring, shellfish production, and maximum daily load monitoring. Scientific knowledge on the application of genetic faecal MST marker diagnostics, to support drinking water supply management and water safety planning, is hardly available yet. The proposed translational research project is going to establish the basic scientific knowledge needed to apply and further develop cutting edge genetic faecal marker diagnostics for quality testing to support water safety plans of drinking water supplies of tomorrow. Genetic faecal MST markers are supposed to extend current monitoring practices based on standard faecal indicator bacteria (SFIB) E. coli and enterococci in order to identify potential contamination sources for elimination or minimisation, and, to bridge the gap between traditional faecal pollution monitoring and microbial risk assessment. However, molecular diagnostics with adequate faecal-source specificity and faecal –source sensitivity is considered a key prerequisite for these applications. A new tiered application strategy for drinking water resources monitoring, based on the combination of bacterial and mitochondrial genetic faecal MST markers, is proposed. The new strategy will systematically be evaluated by means of relevant faecal pollution sources,
representative water resources in Lower Austria, and important disinfection processes. To enable comparisons to traditional methods investigations will be complemented by SFIB and total cell count analysis. Chemical markers will be evaluated to support genetic MST diagnostics. The topic “Intelligent Indication Systems and Diagnostics” has been defined as prioritised research area within the recent FTI strategy (Programme for Research, Technology & Innovation for Lower Austria). The submitted research proposal is thus directly contributing to the adopted FTI strategy. The translational research project will stimulate sustainable collaborations between the Karl Landsteiner University, the well-established Center for Analytic Chemistry at IFA Tulln and the Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, a research centre to pioneer cutting edge water quality research. Furthermore, the project will directly collaborate with EVN Wasser GesmbH, the leading Lower Austrian drinking water supplier. The project will thus directly establish links between cutting edge water research and activities of a leading drinking water supplier to support the realization of water safety management of the future. Joint collaboration between these excellent partners in research and management will contribute to a further establishment of Lower Austria as a leading region in the water sector within the Danube and Central European Region.
DrinkingWATER@building
Knowledge transfer and exchange of experience on drinking water quality in buildings
- Project Number: FFG4952809
- Project Lead: Thomas Czerny, FH Campus Vienna
- Project Partner: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences / Division Water Quality and Health, OFI - Austrian Research Institute, Ecoplus. The Business Agency of Lower Austria
- Duration: 6 months starting from 13.10.2014

Publications

2022

Book

Book Chapter

Conference Paper

Journal Article

2021

Book Chapter

Conference Paper

Journal Article

2020

Conference Paper

Journal Article

2019

Book Chapter

Conference Paper

Journal Article

2018

Book Chapter

Conference Paper

Journal Article

2017

Book Chapter

Journal Article

Research Projects

Future Danube

Background

VIWA 2020+

RIBUST – Efficiency of riparian strips for the protection of water quality

SIWAWI – Challenges for municipal water management

Whole-Danube-River AMR

Background

AQUASCREEN – Biostability of water

Background

REEgain – Biological recycling of environmentally hazardous substances

Background

AQUASAFE – Water quality monitoring of the future

Background

DrinkingWATER@building

Univ.-Prof. PD. Dr. Andreas Farnleitner, MSc.Tox.

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