I am currently interested in assessing the impact of human fecal contamination on recreational surface waters and groundwater systems such as aquifers. I am particularly interested in finding relationships between antibiotic resistance genes, genes associated with pathogens, and host-associated microbial source tracking (MST) genes in environmental water bodies that are severely impacted by human fecal pollution.
In the Harwood lab, we use standard culture methods for culturing fecal indicator bacteria and a variety of qPCR assays to test possible sources of fecal pollution. I have co-authored several publications through collaboration with researchers from Australia and the United States, these studies utilized MST methods and can be found below under publications.
Publications
2018. Lobos, A., Harwood, V.J., Ahmed, W., Zhang, Q., Senkbeil, J., Sadowsky, M. J., & Ishii, S. Increase in Genes Associated with Pathogenic Bacteria and Antibiotic Resistance Following Rainfall in Tampa Bay, Florida. Oral presentation. UNC Water Microbiology Conference. May 22-24, 2018. Chapel Hill, NC.
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2017. Lobos, A., Cunningham, J., and Harwood, V.J. Metal Toxicity Assessment to Examine the Potential of Bioleaching with Filamentous Fungi to Recover Li and Co from Spent Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries. American Society for Microbiology, 117 annual meeting. June 1-5. New Orleans, LA. Poster presentation.
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2016. Lobos, A., Cunningham, J., and Harwood, V.J. Suitability of Mold Species for Bioleaching Assessed Acid Production and Li Tolerance. Florida Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. October 15-16. Miami, FL. Oral presentation.
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2016. Lobos, A., Cunningham, J., and Harwood, V.J. Quantification of Biomass Production and Organic Acid Production for Three Fungal Candidates. American Society for Microbiology, 116 annual meeting. June 16-20. Boston, MA. Poster presentation.
Ahmed, W., Lobos, A., Senkbeil, J., Peraud, J., Gallard, J., & Harwood, V. J. (2018). Evaluation of the novel crAssphage marker for sewage pollution tracking in storm drain outfalls in Tampa, Florida. Water research, 131, 142-150.
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Ahmed, W., Hamilton, K. A., Lobos, A., Hughes, B., Staley, C., Sadowsky, M. J., & Harwood, V. J. (2018). Quantitative microbial risk assessment of microbial source tracking markers in recreational water contaminated with fresh untreated and secondary treated sewage. Environment international, 117, 243-249.
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Ahmed, W., Zhang, Q., Lobos, A., Senkbeil, J., Sadowsky, M. J., Harwood, V. J., ... & Ishii, S. (2018). Precipitation influences pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance gene abundance in storm drain outfalls in coastal sub-tropical waters. Environment international, 116, 308-318.
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Nguyen, K. H., Senay, C., Young, S., Nayak, B., Lobos, A., Conrad, J., & Harwood, V. J. (2018). Determination of wild animal sources of fecal indicator bacteria by microbial source tracking (MST) influences regulatory decisions. Water research, 144, 424-434.
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Staley, C., Kaiser, T., Lobos, A., Ahmed, W., Harwood, V. J., Brown, C. M., & Sadowsky, M. J. (2018). Application of SourceTracker for accurate identification of fecal pollution in recreational freshwater: a double-blinded study. Environmental science & technology, 52(7), 4207-4217.
Presentations
