Limnological Review Webinar | The Wastewater Microbiome and Resistome: Implications for Receiving Water Bodies and Public Health, 13 March 2026

Infectious diseases are among the ten leading causes of death globally. However, determining the disease burden is becoming a challenge when using conventional epidemiology tools due to the rapidly growing global population. However, the evaluation of wastewater has become a more acceptable technique for overcoming this challenge, given that wastewater treatment plants are macrocosms representing entire communities. Furthermore, effluent from these treatment plants is often discharged into surrounding freshwater bodies, potentially polluting them due to suboptimal treatment or plant failure. Thus, although freshwater ecosystems (rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands, ponds, and groundwater sources) are vital for human survival, serving as key sources of drinking water, food, recreation, and livelihoods, increasing anthropogenic pressures and climate change are profoundly altering their microbiological composition. These changes have far-reaching consequences for ecosystem function, biodiversity, and public health.

This webinar brings together two seasoned researchers from two continents. Prof. Dr. Barnard will present findings from a multi-province study on antimicrobial resistance in wastewater treatment plants and their receiving water bodies, as well as their relation to clinical settings. Dr. Amoah will deliver a presentation entitled “The Environmental Resistome and Planetary Health: Mapping the Flow of AMR Through Urban Aquatic Systems”.

Date: Friday, 13 March 2026
Time: 15:00–16:10 SAST | 14:00–15:10 CET
Webinar ID: 846 5416 2076
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/LimnologicalReview-1?subscribe

Speaker/Presentation	Time in SAST
Dr. Abia Akebe Luther King and Prof. Dr. Natasha Potgieter Chair Introduction	3:00–3:10 p.m.
Prof. Dr. Tobias George Barnard A Multi-Province Study On Antimicrobial Resistance In Wastewater Treatment Plants And Their Receiving Water Bodies, And Their Relation To Clinical Settings	3:10–3:30 p.m.
Dr. Isaac Dennis Amoah The Environmental Resistome and Planetary Health: Mapping the Flow of AMR Through Urban Aquatic Systems	3:30–3:50 p.m.
Q&A Session	3:50–4:05 p.m.
Dr. Abia Akebe Luther King and Prof. Dr. Natasha Potgieter Closing of Webinar	4:05–4:10 p.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Abia Akebe Luther King, Total Environment Research (TEN-R) Group, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban, South Africa;

Prof. Dr. Natasha Potgieter, Executive Dean: Faculty Science, Engineering and Agriculture at University of Venda;
Prof. Dr. Tobias George Barnard, Water and Health Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa;
Dr. Isaac Dennis Amoah, Department of Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, China.

Relevant Special Issue:

“Freshwater Microbiology and Public Health”
Guest Editor: Dr. Luther King Abia Akebe
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 June 2026