VIBRIO - Quantification and prediction of Vibrio cholerae bacteria in bathing waters

• Project number: LSC17-007
• Project Management: Alexander Kirschner, Karl Landsteiner Private University for Health Sciences / Department of Water Quality and Health
• Project partner(s): Vienna University of Technology / IFA Tulln Working Group Molecular Diagnostics, Amt der NÖ Landesregierung / Department of Environmental Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna / Institute of Hygiene and Applied Immunology
• Project duration: 48 months from 1 January 2019

Background
Vibrio cholerae is a natural inhabitant of water bodies and the causative agent of cholera. Cholera is caused by toxigenic strains of serogroups O1 and O139, non-toxigenic strains (NTVC) can cause a variety of other infections with possible lethal outcome. Caused by climate change, there has been an increase in NTVC infections in Europe over the last 20 years. In Lower Austria, two extremely severe cases (one of them fatal) occurred for the first time in 2015, associated with bathing activities during an extreme summer heat period. To date, the critical factors controlling NTVC occurrence in inland bathing waters are not well understood. This information and the existence of reliable NTVC determination methods are prerequisites for predictive models and early warning systems for NTVC. In addition to cultivation methods, molecular biology and cell-based methods have been developed. So far, the combination of specific fluorescent labeling and solid phase cytometry has proven to be the best method.
Nevertheless, this method cannot distinguish V.cholerae from closely related species and is extremely laborious and expensive. Therefore, in this project a method based on alternative recognition molecules -APTAMERE- is developed. Aptamers are short oligonucleotides that bind their target molecules with high selectivity and affinity. They have been shown to be antibody equivalents in many applications. Once an aptamer is identified, they can be produced in unlimited quantities at low cost. To date, however, there are no aptamers for V.cholerae.
Two main goals are to be achieved. First, to comprehensively document V.cholerae abundances in representative bathing waters, taking into account ecological, temporal, and spatial gradients; and second, to develop a new innovative aptamer-based method for improved quantification of V.cholerae.

Two main objectives will be achieved. First, to comprehensively document V.cholerae abundances in representative bathing waters, taking into account ecological, temporal and spatial gradients, and second, to develop a new innovative aptamer-based method for improved quantification of V.cholerae.
Predictive models for the spread of NTVC in bathing waters will be developed as a tool for risk assessments, as well as simple protocols for cultivation-independent quantification of V.cholerae. Thus, the project will contribute to better prevention and public health regarding NTVC in bathing waters and toxigenic V.cholerae in water resources. The generated aptamer products, applications and intellectual property will be exploited beyond the project in translational follow-on projects, spin-off companies or contracting to local third party companies. The project contributes directly to the priority research area "Intelligent Indication Systems and Diagnostics" within the latest RTI strategy for Lower Austria. Sustainable collaboration between the project partners within the Inter-University Cooperation Center Water & Health will be strengthened. The project is thus expected to bring sustainable benefits to the province of Lower Austria on several levels.