Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Mu, Beta, Gamma, Lambda, Delta, Alpha, and Omicron in Wastewater Settled Solids Using Mutation-Specific Assays Is Associated with Regional Detection of Variants in Clinical Samples
Marlene K. Wolfe, Bridgette Hughes, Dorothea Duong, Vikram Chan-Herur, Krista R. Wigginton, Bradley J. White, Alexandria B. Boehm
Abstract
Wastewater represents a pooled biological sample of the contributing community and thus a resource for assessing community health. Here, we show that emergence, spread, and disappearance of SARS-CoV-2 infections caused by variants of concern are reflected in the presence of variant genomic RNA in wastewater settled solids. This work highlights an important public health use case for wastewater.
Topics & Concepts
WastewaterBiologySevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)PandemicCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Digital polymerase chain reactionVirologyGeneGeneticsMedicinePolymerase chain reactionEnvironmental scienceEnvironmental engineeringInfectious disease (medical specialty)Internal medicineDiseaseSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingAdvanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniquesBiosensors and Analytical Detection