The virus SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the recent COVID-19 pandemic, may be present in the stools of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater for surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the population. Samples of untreated wastewater were collected from 33 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of different sizes within the Czech Republic. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was concentrated from wastewater and viral RNA was determined using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 11.6% of samples and more than 27.3% of WWTPs; in some of them, SARS-CoV-2 was detected repeatedly. Our preliminary results indicate that an epidemiology approach that focuses on the determination of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater could be suitable for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in the population.

Antibiotic resistance has become a global threat in which the anthropogenically influenced aquatic environment represents not only a reservoir for the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) among humans and animals but also an environment where resistance genes are introduced into natural microbial ecosystems. Wastewater is one of the sources of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this research was the evaluation of wastewater impact on the spread of antibiotic resistance in the water environment. In this study, qPCR was used to detect antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs)—blaCTX-M-15, blaCTX-M-32, ampC, blaTEM, sul1, tetM and mcr-1 and an integron detection primer (intl1). Detection of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli was used as a complement to the observed qPCR results. Our results show that the process of wastewater treatment significantly reduces the abundances of ARGs and ARB. Nevertheless, treated wastewater affects the ARGs and ARB number in the receiving river.

We studied the differences in a microbial community structure with respect to the water pollution level and seasonal changes. The determination of phylogenetic groups of Bacteria and Archaea was done using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The total number of microorganisms was determined by direct counting of DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) stained samples using a fluorescence microscope. Our results showed that the microbial community structure was significantly dependent on the level of water pollution, both in absolute microbial counts and in relative abundance of phylogenetic groups. For surface water with anthropogenic pollution, the microbial community with significant proportion of Betaproteobacteria and Cytophaga-Flavobacterium was characteristic. Gammaproteobacteria were significant in municipal waste water. In microbial communities with low numbers of microorganisms (e.g. non-polluted water and some industrial waste water) represented the significant component groups Alphaproteobacteria and Archaea. The impact of seasonal changes on the microbial distribution was not significant.

Fish pond manuring is often used in fish farming for intensification of fish production by balancing the ratio between carbon and other nutrients. However, the using of manure, classified as hazardous organic matter originating from animal faeces, poses a risk to the water environment.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of semi-liquid pig manure application on faecal pollution and related potential health risk of fish pond utilization.The evaluation of faecal pollution was made during 6 years; the microbiological monitoring was completed with the water chemistry data. Our results showed that a better situation was in ponds, processes of which can be regulated by changes in nutrient contents, i.e., by controlled manure application. The absolute counts of microbial indicators were not significantly different in the control non-manured and manured fish ponds, but sporadically detected high faecal indicators counts in summer can represent a potential health risk. According to our results, the water quality of fish ponds is influenced due to manuring but the immediate impact of manuring in fish ponds and recipients in our study proved neither in deterioration of microbiological quality and health risk enhancement nor in the water quality assessed by chemical analyses.

In this study we evaluate the extent of degradation of high-density polyethylene by bacterial isolates obtained from landfill. The microorganisms are isolated from plastic wastes deposited in the landfill for 2–3 years and 17 years. Experiments are conducted under laboratory conditions to degrade virgin high-density polyethylene used in the manufacture of packaging materials. Gravimetric and GC–MS analyses are performed to describe polyethylene decomposition. Of all the bacterial isolates tested, the degradation of polyethylene by Bacillus cereus is the highest, 1.78%, based on weight loss. On the other hand, degradation by Pseudomonas tuomurensis is 0.3%. Degradation products are detected, confirming the progressive degradation of the plastic. The hydrocarbons with single and double bonds are observed most frequently. Our study provides insight into the microbial biodegradation of polyethylene in the environment and contributes to the understanding of the biodegradation processes that may occur in landfills and their progress. Article Highlights Microorganisms isolated from the landfill are capable of high-density polyethylene degradation. The biodegradation of high-density polyethylene is a slow process. Out of degradation products the hydrocarbons with single and double bonds were observed most frequently.