The Progression of Hydrobiological Microbial Studies in the University Extramural Setting

Abstract

This manuscript delineates the progression of microbial hydrobiology within the ambit of an ‘extramural’ university model, illustrated through the establishment of the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology (LEM) in Cantone Ticino and the Microbial Ecology Group at the University of Geneva. Situated within the premises of the Cantonal Institute of Microbiology, LEM has been instrumental in advancing scientific research and education at both graduate and undergraduate levels in the domains of clinical and environmental microbiology. The core research at LEM concentrates on bacterial species prevalent in freshwater environments, particularly those with the potential for human contamination under specific circumstances, thereby underscoring their importance in clinical microbiology. The research also extends to microbial species crucial in biogeochemical cycles within both pristine and anthropogenically influenced freshwater ecosystems. This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of the scientific endeavors undertaken by LEM, detailing the studied bacterial species and mapping the evolution of analytical methodologies over the past three decades. Notably, advancements in microbiology and molecular biology have facilitated the identification and monitoring of emerging opportunistic pathogens such as Aeromonas, Yersinia, and Legionella in environmental settings, elucidating their transmission pathways from natural habitats to human infection. A particular focus of the study is the permanently stratified ecosystem of Lake Cadagno, a meromictic lake adjacent to the Alpine Biology Centre. This lake serves as a paradigm for understanding biogeochemical processes in freshwater ecosystems, with an emphasis on the biological filter formed at the chemocline. This filter plays a pivotal role in sequestering toxic elements like sulfide, primarily through the activity of anaerobic key genera including Chromatium and Lamprocystis. Moreover, the collaboration between the institutions in Geneva and Ticino has fostered numerous PhD research projects, the establishment of the Alpine Biology Center in Piora, and the development of an academic facility within the new premises of the Cantonal Institute of Microbiology in Bellinzona.