Cai X, Hu Y, Zhou S, Meng D, Xia S, Wang H. Water Res. September 2023.   Highlights Secondary water supply systems (SWSSs) are crucial water supply infrastructures for high-rise buildings in metropolitan cities but are associated with increased microbial risks. The mechanisms of SWSS microbial ecology are less clear. Engineering factors such as tank… Read more »

Cambronne ED, Ayres C, Dowdell KS, Lawler DF, Saleh NB, Kirisits MJ. Environ Sci Technol. October 2023.   Highlights Legionella pneumophila (Lp) gains disinfection resistance by being harboured within free-living amoebae (FLA). Supplementing growth medium with 8 mM magnesium is sufficient to produce Lp grown in vitro with an infectivity equivalent to that of Lp… Read more »

Liang J, Cameron G, Faucher SP.. Appl Environ Microbiol. September 2023.   Highlights Legionella pneumophila is a key factor motivating regulations on hot water systems. Two major measures to control Legionella are high circulating temperatures intended to curtail growth and the use of superheat-and-flush pasteurization processes to eliminate established populations. Facilities often suffer recolonization of… Read more »

Highlights Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) describes the effects, often negative, that a material can experience due to the presence of microorganisms. An interdisciplinary approach is required for this material/biology/chemistry-related challenge. This review highlights critical non-biological aspects of MIC that can sometimes be overlooked by microbiologists working on MIC but which are highly relevant. Gaps, methods… Read more »

N Zacharias, F Waßer, L Freier, K Spies, C Koch, S Pleischl, N Mutters, T Kistemann; Legionella in drinking water: the detection method matters. J Water Health 1 July 2023; 21 (7): 884–894. Highlights The type of culture media directly impacts reported Legionella spp. concentrations. The type of culture media directly impacts the types of… Read more »

Papagianeli SD, Aspridou Z, Didos S, Chochlakis D, Psaroulaki A, Koutsoumanis K. Dynamic modelling of Legionella pneumophila thermal inactivation in water. Water Res. 2021 Feb 15;190:116743.   Highlights A predictive mathematical model describing the effect of temperature on the inactivation of Legionella pneumophila in water was developed. Thermal inactivation of L. pneumophila was monitored under… Read more »

Abstract Although copper-silver ionization (CSI) has been used for 30 years to inactivate Legionella bacteria and other opportunistic pathogens in water, the literature is a mix of both successes and failures. This paper reviews the technology and case studies to help improve the success of CSI installations. Important is a properly designed system capable of consistent… Read more »

Highlights Mature biofilms are considered beneficial to non-chlorinated Danish drinking water distribution systems, as they increase the microbiological stability of the water. During commissioning of new pipes, biofilms start developing on the new pipe wall, and are influenced by factors such as water quality, pipe material, flow velocity and presence of biofilm upstream. The early… Read more »

  Highlights There are very few field studies comparing the level of Legionella colonisation in buildings before and after the pandemic lockdowns. This study analysed a group of hotels that experienced prolonged closures in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Legionella spp. were analysed by standard culture, immediately after reopening, from the domestic water distribution systems of 73… Read more »

Highlights Legionella-like isolates were isolated from a hotel water distribution system in Italy. Isolates were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and able to grow at 32–37 °C on buffered charcoal–yeast extract agar. Genetic analysis showed a close relationship with L. quateirensis The results obtained confirm the status of an independent species. The name proposed for this species is Legionella bononiensis nov…. Read more »