Dr Kata Farkas

Environmental Virologist

Contact info

Environment Centre Wales

School of Natural Sciences

Bangor University

Bangor LL57 2UW, UK

Phone: +44 (0) 1248 382615

Email: k.farkas@bangor.ac.uk

Google Scholar

I competed my PhD in microbiology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand in 2014. My research focused on the fate and behaviour of enteric viruses in groundwater. After finishing my studies, I was involved in various project that uses viral metagenomics approaches to identify viruses (both known and novel) in various ecosystems. Since 2015, I have been working at the Bangor University, on the Viraqua Project (www.viraqua.uk; 2015-2018) and at the Shellfish Centre (2019-onward).

My research focuses on the ecology and survival of viruses in the aquatic environment with a special interest in the fate of enteric viruses. Enteric viruses are responsible for the majority of gastroenteral illnesses globally putting an enormous burden on healthcare systems and the wider economy. These pathogens are often found in water reservoirs (recreational and drinking water sources, shellfish harvesting areas) and hence responsible for water- and foodborne outbreaks. I design and validate methods for the recovery of enteric viruses in the aquatic environment in order to quantify infectious viruses, understand viral ecology, describe novel and emerging strains and model viral transport in the environment.

  1. Article › Research › Peer-reviewed
  2. Published

    A Gel Filtration-Based Method for the Purification of Infectious Rotavirus Particles for Environmental Research Applications

    Farkas, K., Pang, L., Lin, S., Williamson, W., Easingwood, R., Fredericks, R., Jaffer, M. A. & Varsani, A., 1 Dec 2013, In: Food and Environmental Virology. 5, 4, p. 231-235

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. Published

    A comparison of precipitation and filtration-based SARS-CoV-2 recovery methods and the influence of temperature, turbidity, and surfactant load in urban wastewater

    Kevill, J. L., Pellett, C., Farkas, K., Brown, M. R., Bassano, I., Denise, H., McDonald, J. E., Malham, S. K., Porter, J., Warren, J., Evens, N. P., Paterson, S., Singer, A. C. & Jones, D. L., 20 Feb 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 808, 151916.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. Published

    Abundance and Distribution of Enteric Bacteria and Viruses in Coastal and Estuarine Sediments—a Review

    Hassard, F., Gwyther, C. L., Farkas, K., Andrews, A., Jones, V., Cox, B., Brett, H., Jones, D., McDonald, J. & Malham, S., 1 Nov 2016, In: Frontiers in Microbiology.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. Published

    Adsorption of Rotavirus, MS2 Bacteriophage and Surface-Modified Silica Nanoparticles to Hydrophobic Matter

    Farkas, K., Pang, L. & Varsani, A., 1 Sept 2015, In: Food and Environmental Virology. 7, 3, p. 261-268

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. Published

    Assessment of two types of passive sampler for the efficient recovery of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses from wastewater

    Kevill, J. L., Lambert-Slosarska, K., Pellett, C., Woodhall, N., Richardson-O'Neill, I., Pantea, I., Alex-Sanders, N., Farkas, K. & Jones, D. L., 10 Sept 2022, In: Science of the Total Environment. 838, 4, 156580.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  7. Published

    Assessment of wastewater derived pollution using viral monitoring in two estuaries

    Farkas, K., Mannion, F., Sorby, R., Winterbourn, B., Allender, S., Gregory, C. G. M., Holding, P., Thorpe, J. M., Malham, S. K. & Le Vay, L., 1 Mar 2024, In: Marine pollution bulletin. 200, 116081.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. Published

    Attenuation and transport of human enteric viruses and bacteriophage MS2 in alluvial sand and gravel aquifer media-laboratory studies

    Pang, L., Farkas, K., Lin, S., Hewitt, J., Premaratne, A. & Close, M., 15 May 2021, In: Water research. 196, 117051.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. Published

    City-wide wastewater genomic surveillance through the successive emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants

    Brunner, F. S., Brown, M. R., Bassano, I., Denise, H., Khalifa, M. S., Wade, M. J., van Aerle, R., Kevill, J. L., Jones, D. L., Farkas, K., Jeffries, A. R., Cairns, E., Wierzbicki, C. & Paterson, S., 1 Nov 2022, In: Water research. 226, 119306.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. Published

    Comparative Assessment of Filtration- and Precipitation-Based Methods for the Concentration of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viruses from Wastewater

    Farkas, K., Pellett, C., Alex-Sanders, N., Bridgman, M. T. P., Corbishley, A., Grimsley, J. M. S., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Kevill, J. L., Pantea, I., Richardson-O'Neill, I. S., Lambert-Slosarska, K., Woodhall, N. & Jones, D. L., 31 Aug 2022, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 10, 4, 16 p., spectrum.01102-22.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. Published

    Comparison of virus concentration methods for the RT-qPCR-based recovery of murine hepatitis virus, a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 from untreated wastewater

    Ahmed, W., Bertsch, P., Bivins, A., Bibby, K., Farkas, K., Gathercole, A., Haramoto, E., Gyawali, P., Korajkic, A., McMinn, B., Mueller, J., Simpson, S., Smith, W., Symonds, E., Thomas, K., Verhagen, R. & Kitajima, M., 15 Oct 2020, In: Science of the Total Environment. 739, 139960.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  12. Published

    Concentration and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Using Polyethylene Glycol-Based Concentration and qRT-PCR.(vol 4, 17, 2021)

    Farkas, K., Hillary, L. S., Thorpe, J., Walker, D. I., Lowther, J. A., McDonald, J. E., Malham, S. K. & Jones, D. L., 12 Nov 2021, In: Methods and Protocols. 4, 4

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. Published

    Concentration and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater using polyethylene glycol-based concentration and qRT-PCR

    Farkas, K., Hillary, L., Thorpe, J., Walker, D., Lowther, J. A., McDonald, J., Malham, S. & Jones, D. L., 23 Feb 2021, In: Methods and Protocols. 4, 1, 10 p., 17.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Critical Evaluation of CrAssphage as a Molecular Marker for Human-Derived Wastewater Contamination in the Aquatic Environment

    Farkas, K., Adriaenssens, E. M., Walker, D. I., McDonald, J., Malham, S. & Jones, D. L., 1 Jun 2019, In: Food and Environmental Virology. 11, 2, p. 113-119

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. Published

    Critical Evaluation of Different Passive Sampler Materials and Approaches for the Recovery of SARS-CoV-2, Faecal-Indicator Viruses and Bacteria from Wastewater

    Jones, D. L., Grimsley, J. M. S., Kevill, J. L., Williams, R., Pellett, C., Lambert-Slosarska, K., Singer, A. C., Williams, G. B., Bargiela, R., Brown, R. W., Agency, UK. & Farkas, K., 6 Nov 2022, In: Water. 14, 21, 3568.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Detection and genotype analysis of Giardia duodenalis from asymptomatic Hungarian inhabitants and comparative findings in three distinct locations

    Plutzer, J., Torokne, A., Szenasi, Z., Kucsera, I., Farkas, K. & Karanis, P., Mar 2014, In: Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica. 61, 1, p. 19-26

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Development and validation of a duplex RT-qPCR assay for norovirus quantification in wastewater samples

    Alex-Sanders, N., Woodhall, N., Farkas, K., Scott, G., Jones, D. L. & Walker, D. I., 1 Nov 2023, In: Journal of Virological Methods. 321, 114804.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. Published

    Diurnal changes in pathogenic and indicator virus concentrations in wastewater

    Farkas, K., Pântea, I., Woodhall, N., Williams, D., Lambert-Slosarska, K., Williams, R. C., Grimsley, J. M. S., Singer, A. C. & Jones, D. L., Dec 2023, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 30, 59, p. 123785-123795 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    Emerging technologies for the rapid detection of enteric viruses in the aquatic environment

    Farkas, K., Mannion, F., Hillary, L., Malham, S. & Walker, D., Aug 2020, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 16, p. 1-6

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  20. Published

    Evaluation of Molecular Methods for the Detection and Quantification of Pathogen-Derived Nucleic Acids in Sediment

    Farkas, K., Hassard, F., McDonald, J., Malham, S. & Jones, D., 24 Jan 2017, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 6, p. 1-12 53.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Evaluation of Two Triplex One-Step qRT-PCR Assays for the Quantification of Human Enteric Viruses in Environmental Samples

    Farkas, K., Peters, D. E., McDonald, J., de Rougemont, A., Malham, S. & Jones, D., Sept 2017, In: Food and Environmental Virology. 9, 3, p. 342-349

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Fish polyomaviruses belong to two distinct evolutionary lineages

    Van Doorslaer, K., Kraberger, S., Austin, C., Farkas, K., Bergeman, M., Paunil, E., Davison, W. & Varsani, A., 8 Mar 2018, In: Journal of General Virology. 99, 4, p. 567-573

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Genome sequence of a diverse goose circovirus recovered from greylag goose

    Stenzel, T., Farkas, K. & Varsani, A., 30 Jul 2015, In: Genome Announcements. 3, 4, e00767-15.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. Published

    Genome sequences of Beet curly top Iran virus, Oat dwarf virus, Turnip curly top virus, and wheat dwarf virus identified in leafhoppers

    Kamali, M., Heydarnejad, J., Pouramini, N., Masumi, H., Farkas, K., Kraberger, S. & Varsani, A., 23 Feb 2017, In: Genome Announcements. 5, 8, e01674-16.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Genome sequences of a capulavirus infecting Plantago lanceolata in the Åland archipelago of Finland

    Susi, H., Laine, A-L., Filloux, D., Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Bernardo, P., Frilander, M. J., Martin, D. P., Varsani, A. & Roumagnac, P., 1 Jul 2017, In: Archives of Virology. 162, 7, p. 2041-2045

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. Published

    Genomoviruses associated with mountain and western pine beetles

    Kraberger, S., Hofstetter, R. W., Potter, K. A., Farkas, K. & Varsani, A., 2 Sept 2018, In: Virus Research. 256, p. 17-20

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. Published

    Identification of an avian polyomavirus associated with Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

    Varsani, A., Porzig, E. L., Jennnings, S., Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Julian, L., Massaro, M., Ballard, G. & Ainley, D. G., 1 Apr 2015, In: Journal of General Virology. 96, p. 851-857

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. Identification of novel Bromus- and Trifolium-associated circular DNA viruses

    Kraberger, S., Farkas, K., Bernardo, P., Booke, C., Argüello-Astorga, G. R., Mesléard, F., Martin, D. P., Roumagnac, P. & Varsani, A., May 2015, In: Archives of Virology. 160, 5, p. 1303-1311

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    Investigating awareness, fear and control associated with norovirus and other pathogens and pollutants using best–worst scaling

    Farkas, K., Green, E., Rigby, D., Cross, P., Tyrrel, S., Malham, S. & Jones, D. L., 27 May 2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 11 p., 11194.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Mimicking filtration and transport of rotavirus and adenovirus in sand media using DNA-labeled, protein-coated silica nanoparticles

    Pang, L., Farkas, K., Bennett, G., Varsani, A., Easingwood, R., Tilley, R., Nowostawska, U. & Lin, S., 1 Oct 2014, In: Water Research. 62, p. 167-179

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. Published

    Molecular characterization and prevalence of two capulaviruses: Alfalfa leaf curl virus from France and Euphorbia caput-medusae latent virus from South Africa

    Bernardo, P., Muhire, B., Francois, S., Deshoux, M., Hartnady, P., Farkas, K., Kraberger, S., Filloux, D., Fernandez, E., Galzi, S., Ferdinand, R., Granier, M., Marais, A., Blasco, P. M., Candresse, T., Escriu, F., Varsani, A., Harkins, G. W., Martin, D. P. & Roumagnac, P., 1 Jun 2016, In: Virology. 493, p. 142-153

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Published

    Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in municipal wastewater to evaluate the success of lockdown measures for controlling COVID-19 in the UK

    Hillary, L. S., Farkas, K., Maher, K. H., Lucaci, A., Thorpe, J., Distaso, M. A., Gaze, W. H., Paterson, S., Burke, T., Connor, T. R., McDonald, J. E., Malham, S. K. & Jones, D. L., 15 Jul 2021, In: Water Research. 200, p. 117214 1 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Published

    Poor air passenger knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and behaviour undermines strategies aimed at preventing the import of SARS-CoV-2 into the UK

    Jones, D. L., Rhymes, J., Green, E., Rimmer, C., Kevill, J., Malham, S., Weightman, A. & Farkas, K., 1 Mar 2023, In: Scientific Reports. 13, 1, 3494.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Prevalence and relative risk of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children under five years in Nigeria: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    Digwo, D., Chidebelu, P., Ugwu, K., Adediji, A., Farkas, K. & Chigor, V., Feb 2023, In: Pathogens and Global Health. 117, 1, p. 24-35 12 p., 2043223.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. Published

    Rapid Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Variant-Associated Mutations in Wastewater Using Real-Time RT-PCR

    Farkas, K., Pellett, C., Williams, R., Alex-Sanders, N., Bassano, I., Brown, M. R., Denise, H., Grimsley, J. M. S., Kevill, J. L., Khalifa, M. S., Pântea, I., Story, R., Wade, M. J., Woodhall, N. & Jones, D. L., 14 Feb 2023, In: Microbiology Spectrum. 11, 1, e0317722.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. Published

    Research needs for optimising wastewater-based epidemiology monitoring for public health protection

    Robins, K., Leonard, A. F. C., Farkas, K., Graham, D. W., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Bunce, J. T., Grimsley, J. M. S., Wade, M. J., Zealand, A. M., McIntyre-Nolan, S. & Jones, D. L., 1 Sept 2022, In: Journal of Water and Health. 20, 9, p. 1284-1313

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Published

    Seasonal and diurnal surveillance of treated and untreated wastewater for human enteric viruses

    Farkas, K., Marshall, M., Cooper, D., McDonald, J. E., Malham, S. K., Peters, D. E., Maloney, J. D. & Jones, D. L., Nov 2018, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 25, 33, p. 33391-33401

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    Seasonal and spatial dynamics of enteric viruses in wastewater and in riverine and estuarine receiving waters

    Malham, S., Farkas, K., McDonald, J., Jones, D. L., Cooper, D. & de Rougemont, A., 1 Sept 2018, In: Science of the Total Environment. 634, p. 1174 1183 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Serological responses to Cryptosporidium antigens in inhabitants of Hungary using conventionally filtered surface water and riverbank filtered drinking water

    Farkas, K., Plutzer, J., Moltchanova, E., Torokne, A., Varro, M. J., Domokos, K., Frost, F. & Hunter, P. R., Oct 2015, In: Epidemiology and Infection. 143, 13, p. 2743-2747

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. Published

    Site Specific Relationships between COVID-19 Cases and SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load in Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent

    Fitzgerald, S. F., Rossi, G., Low, A. S., McAteer, S. P., O'Keefe, B., Findlay, D., Cameron, G. J., Pollard, P., Singleton, P. T. R., Ponton, G., Singer, A. C., Farkas, K., Jones, D. L., Graham, D. W., Quintela-Baluja, M., Tait-Burkard, C., Gally, D. L., Kao, R. & Corbishley, A., 16 Nov 2021, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 55, 22, p. 15276-15286 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  41. Published

    Size exclusion-based purification and PCR-based quantitation of MS2 bacteriophage particles for environmental applications

    Farkas, K., Varsani, A., Marjoshi, D., Easingwood, R., McGill, E. & Pang, L., 1 Mar 2015, In: Journal of Virological Methods. p. 135-138

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  42. Published

    Suitability of aircraft wastewater for pathogen detection and public health surveillance

    Jones, D. L., Rhymes, J., Wade, M. J., Kevill, J., Malham, S., Grimsley, J. M. S., Rimmer, C., Weightman, A. & Farkas, K., 15 Jan 2023, In: Science of the Total Environment. 856, Pt 2, p. 159162 159162.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  43. Published

    The ancient evolutionary history of polyomaviruses

    Buck, C. B., Van Doorslaer, K., Peretti, A., Geoghegan, E. M., Tisza, M. J., An, P., Katz, J. P., Pipas, J. M., McBride, A. A., Camus, A. C., McDermott, A. J., Dill, J. A., Delwart, E., Ng, T. F. F., Farkas, K., Austin, C., Kraberger, S., Davison, W., Pastrana, F. V. & Varsani, A., 19 Apr 2016, In: PLoS Pathogens. 12, 4, e1005574.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  44. Published

    Tracing the fate of wastewater viruses reveals catchment-scale virome diversity and connectivity

    Adriaenssens, E. M., Farkas, K., McDonald, J. E., Jones, D. L., Allison, H. E. & McCarthy, A. J., 15 Sept 2021, In: Water Research. 203

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  45. Tracking effluent discharges in undisturbed stony soil and alluvial gravel aquifer using synthetic DNA tracers

    Pang, L., Robson, B., Farkas, K., McGill, E., Varsani, A., Gillot, L., Li, J. & Abraham, P., 15 Aug 2017, In: Science of the Total Environment. 592, p. 144-152

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  46. Published

    Two-Step Concentration of Complex Water Samples for the Detection of Viruses

    Farkas, K., McDonald, J., Malham, S. & Jones, D. L., 10 Sept 2018, In: Methods and Protocols. 1, 3, 35.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  47. Published

    Understanding and managing uncertainty and variability for wastewater monitoring beyond the pandemic: Lessons learned from the United Kingdom national COVID-19 surveillance programmes

    Wade, M. J., Lo Jacomo, A., Armenise, E., Brown, M. R., Bunce, J. T., Cameron, G. J., Fang, Z., Farkas, K., Gilpin, D. F., Graham, D. W., Grimsley, J. M. S., Hart, A., Hoffmann, T., Jackson, K. J., Jones, D. L., Lilley, C. J., McGrath, J. W., McKinley, J. M., McSparron, C., Nejad, B. F., Morvan, M., Quintela-Baluja, M., Roberts, A. M. I., Singer, A. C., Souque, C., Speight, V. L., Sweetapple, C., Walker, D., Watts, G., Weightman, A. & Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., 15 Feb 2022, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 424, Pt B, 127456.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  48. Published

    Viral dispersal in the coastal zone: A method to quantify water quality risk

    Robins, P., Farkas, K., Jones, D. L., Cooper, D. & Malham, S., May 2019, In: Environment International. 126, p. 430-442

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  49. Published

    Viral indicators for tracking domestic wastewater contamination in the aquatic environment

    Farkas, K., Walker, D., Adriaenssens, E., McDonald, J., Hillary, L., Malham, S. & Jones, D. L., 15 Aug 2020, In: Water Research. 181, 115926.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  50. Published

    Viromic Analysis of Wastewater Input to a River Catchment Reveals a Diverse Assemblage of RNA Viruses

    Adriaenssens, E. M., Farkas, K., Harrison, C., Jones, D. L., Allison, H. E. & McCarthy, A., 22 May 2018, In: mSystems. 3, 3, e00025-18.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  51. Published

    Wastewater and public health: the potential of wastewater surveillance for monitoring COVID-19

    Farkas, K., Hillary, L., Malham, S., McDonald, J. & Jones, D. L., Oct 2020, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health. 17, p. 14-20 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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