PUBLICATIONS

2026

A portable acoustic biosensing platform combined with paper-based capillary fluidics for the rapid detection of antibodies in serum

We report the development of a sensitive biosensing platform based on a shear-horizontal surface acoustic wave (SH-SAW) device and paper fluidics, with the potential to be used outside centralized laboratory settings. Systematic research on the biorecognition surface, blocking agent, fluidics and measuring unit allowed us to transform a laboratory-based method into a field-deployable device. As a proof-ofconcept, the platform was used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike antibodies on a surfaceimmobilized spike protein, tested in both simulated and human blood serum samples.  READ MORE

Author: Dimitra Chronaki, Stylianos Grammatikos, Angelos Ntimtsas, Marios Matsis, Orestis F. Kokolakis, Konstantina Alexaki, Zoi Pournara, Achilleas Tsortos, Alexandros Zafiropoulos and Electra Gizeli, Analyst, 2026  DOI: 10.1039/d6an00114a

2025

Wastewater Metavirome Diversity: Exploring Replicate Inconsistencies and Bioinformatic Tool Disparities

This study investigates viral composition in wastewater through metagenomic analysis, evaluating the performance of four bioinformatic tools – Genome Detective, CZ.ID, INSaFLU-TELEVIR and Trimmomatic + Kraken2 – on samples collected from four sites in each of two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Lisbon, Portugal in April 2019. From each site, we collected and processed separately three replicates and one pool of nucleic acids extracted from the replicates. READ MORE

Authors: André F. B. Santos, Mónica Nunes, Andreia Filipa-Silva, Victor Pimentel, Marta Pingarilho, Patrícia Abrantes, Mafalda N. S. Miranda, Maria Teresa Barreto Crespo, Ana B. Abecasis, Ricardo Parreira, and Sofia G. Seabra, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 

2026

Youth4Diagnostics: Empowering Students through Citizen Science for Water Safety

Youth4Diagnostics empowers secondary school students to explore water safety. By collecting and analyzing samples, create diagnostic tools and contribute to an open database on water biodiversity. The project connects science with community action, fostering innovation and public health awareness. READ MORE

Authors: Angeliki Kolokousi, Panagiotis Georgantis, Markella Splinaki, Chara Mavromati, Iasmi Stathi, ECSA 2026 – Citizen Science between Centre and Periphery

2026

Kounoopia (Mosquito) Watch: Citizen Science for Vector Surveillance and Public Health

Kounoopia (Mosquito) Watch is a citizen science initiative that engages communities across Greece in monitoring mosquito populations, with a particular focus on invasive species such as Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), a vector of diseases including dengue, Zika, and West Nile virus. Using the iNaturalist platform, citizens submit geo-referenced photographs of mosquitoes and potential breeding sites. These observations are validated by entomology experts and contribute to the Mosquitoes of Europe database, providing high-quality data that support research and public health surveillance. READ MORE

Authors: Angeliki Kolokousi, Panagiotis Georgantis, Markella Splinaki, Chara Mavromati, Iasmi Stathi,  ECSA 2026 – Citizen Science between Centre and Periphery