Molecular monitoring of bacterial biodiversity in the water cycle

The increasing spread of bacterial resistance mechanisms, antibiotics, and various chemical substances such as biocides, toxins, plasticizers, and microplastics have a direct or indirect impact on biological diversity. The consequences for animal and human health can be felt globally. Climate change and other anthropogenic factors are exacerbating these negative effects.

To date, no suitable methods exist to assess the impact of the above-mentioned factors on biodiversity and human health in urban regions. Against this background, project MOMOBIO will compile detailed data sets and develop ecological models. To this end, the urban microbiota and changes in its diversity will be observed along the wastewater streams of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The main aim of the project is to use changes in microbial biodiversity as an indirect measure of human and animal health.

The MOMOBIO project is being carried out in close cooperation with relevant partners in relation to (waste) water flows in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The partners involved are the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), the drinking water supply and wastewater disposal company Hamburg Wasser, three independent research teams from the University of Hamburg, the supervisory authority of the City of Hamburg (Institute for Hygiene and Environment) and the non-governmental organization Life Science Nord. MOMOBIO brings together unique, long-standing expertise from biological and clinical research, environmental monitoring, knowledge of (waste) water flows, and science communication in the Hamburg metropolitan region. The results obtained will be used to develop approaches for the prevention of diseases through early intervention.