Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University, College of Medicine, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA.
Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA.
BMC Genomics. 2024 Jan 13;25(1):59. doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-09977-7.
Central Michigan University (CMU) participated in a state-wide SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring program since 2021. Wastewater samples were collected from on-campus sites and nine off-campus wastewater treatment plants servicing small metropolitan and rural communities. SARS-CoV-2 genome copies were quantified using droplet digital PCR and results were reported to the health department.
One rural, off-campus site consistently produced higher concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 genome copies. Samples from this site were sequenced and contained predominately a derivative of Alpha variant lineage B.1.1.7, detected from fall 2021 through summer 2023. Mutational analysis of reconstructed genes revealed divergence from the Alpha variant lineage sequence over time, including numerous mutations in the Spike RBD and NTD.
We discuss the possibility that a chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection accumulated adaptive mutations that promoted long-term infection. This study reveals that small wastewater treatment plants can enhance resolution of rare events and facilitate reconstruction of viral genomes due to the relative lack of contaminating sequences.
中央密歇根大学（CMU）自 2021 年以来参与了一项全州范围内的 SARS-CoV-2 废水监测计划。从校园内的地点和为小城市和农村社区服务的九个校外废水处理厂采集了废水样本。使用液滴数字 PCR 定量了 SARS-CoV-2 基因组拷贝数，并将结果报告给了卫生部门。
一个农村校外地点的 SARS-CoV-2 基因组拷贝数始终较高。对该地点的样本进行了测序，其中主要包含 Alpha 变体谱系 B.1.1.7 的衍生物，该变体于 2021 年秋季至 2023 年夏季检测到。对重建基因的突变分析表明，随着时间的推移，与 Alpha 变体谱系序列发生了分歧，包括 Spike RBD 和 NTD 中的许多突变。
我们讨论了慢性 SARS-CoV-2 感染积累适应性突变从而促进长期感染的可能性。这项研究表明，由于相对缺乏污染序列，小型废水处理厂可以提高稀有事件的分辨率并促进病毒基因组的重建。
