The Environmental MICROBIOlogy Laboratory of the Technical University of Crete (TUC) consists of an experienced team conducting research across various fields within the broader scope of environmental microbiology. The research work directly related to the proposed infrastructure focuses on the following distinct areas in the field of Environmental Microbiology:

1. Assessment of Environmental Microbiological Quality:
   • Examination of microbiological quality in drinking water, seawater, bottled water, wastewater, and food.
   • Focus on studying pathogenic environmental microorganisms, such as bacteria, parasites/protozoa, bacteriophages, and enteric viruses.
   • Investigation of emerging microorganisms considered hazardous to human health and the source of contamination, to establish necessary remediation measures.
2. Microorganisms’ Response to Disinfection Methods:
   • Study of bacterial and viral responses to various water and wastewater disinfection methods.
   • Emphasis on developing and using innovative materials as photocatalysts for effective microorganism inactivation.
3. Monitoring Antibiotic Dispersion in the Aquatic Environment:
   • Analysis of the impact of antibiotic dispersion on the development of microbial resistance.
   • Research on the transfer and mutations of resistance genes and the behavior of resistant microorganisms.
4. Eco-Toxicity and Environmental Quality Control:
   • Decomposition of pollutants such as antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, hormones, and emerging micro-pollutants using chemical processes.
   • Evaluation of the toxicity and antimicrobial properties of byproducts.
5. Testing Physical and Synthetic Materials for Antimicrobial Activity:
   • Evaluation of the effectiveness of natural and synthetic materials in combating microorganisms.