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Itarte M, Calvo M, Martínez-Frago L, Mejías-Molina C, Martínez-Puchol S, Girones R, Medema G, Bofill-Mas S, Rusiñol M. Assessing environmental exposure to viruses in wastewater treatment plant and swine farm scenarios with next-generation sequencing and occupational risk approaches. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114360. [PMID: 38555823 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to pathogens can pose health risks. This study investigates the viral exposure of workers in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and a swine farm by analyzing aerosol and surfaces samples. Viral contamination was evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, and target enrichment sequencing (TES) was performed to identify the vertebrate viruses to which workers might be exposed. Additionally, Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was conducted to estimate the occupational risk associated with viral exposure for WWTP workers, choosing Human Adenovirus (HAdV) as the reference pathogen. In the swine farm, QMRA was performed as an extrapolation, considering a hypothetical zoonotic virus with characteristics similar to Porcine Adenovirus (PAdV). The modelled exposure routes included aerosol inhalation and oral ingestion through contaminated surfaces and hand-to-mouth contact. HAdV and PAdV were widespread viruses in the WWTP and the swine farm, respectively, by qPCR assays. TES identified human and other vertebrate viruses WWTP samples, including viruses from families such as Adenoviridae, Circoviridae, Orthoherpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, and Parvoviridae. In the swine farm, most of the identified vertebrate viruses were porcine viruses belonging to Adenoviridae, Astroviridae, Circoviridae, Herpesviridae, Papillomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Picornaviridae, and Retroviridae. QMRA analysis revealed noteworthy risks of viral infections for WWTP workers if safety measures are not taken. The probability of illness due to HAdV inhalation was higher in summer compared to winter, while the greatest risk from oral ingestion was observed in workspaces during winter. Swine farm QMRA simulation suggested a potential occupational risk in the case of exposure to a hypothetical zoonotic virus. This study provides valuable insights into WWTP and swine farm worker's occupational exposure to human and other vertebrate viruses. QMRA and NGS analyses conducted in this study will assist managers in making evidence-based decisions, facilitating the implementation of protection measures, and risk mitigation practices for workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Itarte
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Miquel Calvo
- Secció d'Estadística, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lola Martínez-Frago
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mejías-Molina
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Martínez-Puchol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosina Girones
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Laboratory of Viruses Contaminants of Water and Food, Secció de Microbiologia, Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Institut de Recerca de l'Aigua (IdRA), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
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Gu X, Tang Q, Zhu Y, Sun C, Wu L, Ji H, Wang Q, Wu L, Qin Y. Advancements of CRISPR technology in public health-related analysis. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 261:116449. [PMID: 38850734 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Pathogens and contaminants in food and the environment present significant challenges to human health, necessitating highly sensitive and specific diagnostic methods. Traditional approaches often struggle to meet these requirements. However, the emergence of the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) system has revolutionized nucleic acid diagnostics. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of the biological sensing technology based on the CRISPR/Cas system and its potential applications in public health-related analysis. Additionally, it explores the enzymatic cleavage capabilities mediated by Cas proteins, highlighting the promising prospects of CRISPR technology in addressing bioanalysis challenges. We discuss commonly used CRISPR-Cas proteins and elaborate on their application in detecting foodborne bacteria, viruses, toxins, other chemical pollution, and drug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, we highlight the advantages of CRISPR-based sensors in the field of public health-related analysis and propose that integrating CRISPR-Cas biosensing technology with other technologies could facilitate the development of more diverse detection platforms, thereby indicating promising prospects in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xijuan Gu
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China; Xinglin College, Nantong University, Qidong, Jiangsu, 226236, PR China
| | - Qu Tang
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China
| | - Yidan Zhu
- Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, PR China
| | - Chenling Sun
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China
| | - Lingwei Wu
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China
| | - Haiwei Ji
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China.
| | - Li Wu
- Nantong Key Laboratory of Public Health and Medical Analysis, School of Life Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China; School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China.
| | - Yuling Qin
- School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226019, PR China.
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Sommer J, Bobal M, Bromberger B, Mester PJ, Rossmanith P. A new long-term sampling approach to viruses on surfaces. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17545. [PMID: 34475462 PMCID: PMC8413268 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96873-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of virus disease outbreaks and its prevention is of growing public concern but our understanding of virus transmission routes is limited by adequate sampling strategies. While conventional swabbing methods provide merely a microbial snapshot, an ideal sampling strategy would allow reliable collection of viral genomic data over longer time periods. This study has evaluated a new, paper-based sticker approach for collection of reliable viral genomic data over longer time periods up to 14 days and after implementation of different hygiene measures. In contrast to swabbing methods, which sample viral load present on a surface at a given time, the paper-based stickers are attached to the surface area of interest and collect viruses that would have otherwise been transferred onto that surface. The major advantage of one-side adhesive stickers is that they are permanently attachable to a variety of surfaces. Initial results demonstrate that stickers permit stable recovery characteristics, even at low virus titers. Stickers also allow reliable virus detection after implementation of routine hygiene measures and over longer periods up to 14 days. Overall, results for this new sticker approach for virus genomic data collection are encouraging, but further studies are required to confirm anticipated benefits over a range of virus types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sommer
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Martin Bobal
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Vetfarm and Clinical Unit of Herd Health Management for Ruminants, Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Kremesberg 14, 2563, Pottenstein, Austria
| | - Birgit Bromberger
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick-Julian Mester
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Rossmanith
- Unit of Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health Department for Farm Animals and Public Health in Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
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