Understanding the ecology and virulence of Legionella spp. populations in freshwater systems in Germany, Palestine and Israel - Phase 2

军团菌属的细菌引起水传播感染，导致严重的肺炎。在欧洲，70%的所谓军团菌病（LD）病例源自军团菌菌株。嗜肺军团菌血清群1（Sg）占20%;嗜肺军团菌血清型占10%，其他军团菌属占10%。相反，在中东，大多数军团菌感染是由于L。嗜肺菌Sg 3.该项目的总体目标是提高目前对淡水系统中军团菌生态学、影响其发生的环境因素、毒力潜力和传染性的认识，并了解其向人类的传播。我们将分析调节军团菌丰度的主要环境因素，如放牧和可溶性有机碳，因为这些异养细菌在水生生境中的发生高度依赖于这些因素。我们将使用基于环境样本和临床分离株的高分辨率诊断的综合分子方法来确定军团菌种群的丰度、活性和毒力潜力。结合环境和分子流行病学数据，我们的目标是了解军团菌和LD病例的生态学和种群动态之间的联系。该项目将导致对军团菌分子流行病学的新理解，并提供新的监测工具和预防LD的策略。

Bacteria of the genus Legionella cause waterborne infections resulting in severe pneumonia. In Europe, 70% of the cases of the so-called Legionnaires’ disease (LD) originate from strains of L. pneumophila serogroup (Sg) 1, 20% from other L. pneumophila serotypes and 10% from other Legionella species. In contrast, in the Middle East most legionella infections are due to L. pneumophila Sg3. The overall objective of this project is to advance current knowledge on the ecology of legionella in freshwater systems, the environmental factors affecting their occurrence, virulence potential and infectivity and to understand their transmission to humans. We will analyze the major environmental factors regulating the abundance of legionella, such as grazing and assimable dissolved organic carbon, because the occurrence of these heterotrophic bacteria in aquatic habitats is highly dependent on these factors. We will use an integrated molecular approach based on highresolution diagnostics of environmental samples and clinical isolates to determine the abundance, activity and virulence potential of Legionella populations in-situ. Combining environmental and molecular epidemiological data, we aim at understanding the link between ecology and population dynamics of legionella and cases of LD. The project will result in a novel understanding of the molecular epidemiology of legionella and provide new surveillance tools and strategies to prevent LD.