Microbial Source Tracking (MST)
Filtered soil samples on Agar
Gel image of soil samples post Gel Electrophoresis
Understanding human health risks associated with water contaminated with fecal matter is crucial, yet comprehensive screening for all potential pathogens is often impractical due to time, cost, and technical constraints. Microbial source tracking (MST) has emerged as a powerful tool, utilising host-associated molecular markers to identify origins of fecal contamination with a high degree of precision. This approach, which includes markers for a variety of animals and humans, offers more accurate assessment of health risks and contamination sources.
MST Workflow
1. Regular intensive sampling is conducted at recreational beach waters and selected drain/canal outlets around vicinity of interest.
2. Samples are analysed for parameters (Animal markers, Human markers i.e. Crassphage, Bacteroides HF183) to determine baseline pathogen levels.
3. Ad-hoc focused sampling is conducted at selected drains/canals to identify host origins and pathways of faecal contaminants, to narrow down their potential sources, i.e., where they enter watercourses.
4. Pathogen screening is done to identify prevalent pathogens in beach waters order to develop a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) associated with MST markers.
For more details, please contact: Professor Karina GIN Yew-Hoong | E-mail: ceeginyh@nus.edu.sg