1
|
Robotto A, Olivero C, Pozzi E, Strumia C, Crasà C, Fedele C, Derosa M, Di Martino M, Latino S, Scorza G, Civra A, Lembo D, Quaglino P, Brizio E, Polato D. Efficient wastewater sample filtration improves the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants: An extensive analysis based on sequencing parameters. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304158. [PMID: 38787865 PMCID: PMC11125551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, many countries established wastewater (WW) surveillance to objectively monitor the level of infection within the population. As new variants continue to emerge, it has become clear that WW surveillance is an essential tool for the early detection of variants. The EU Commission published a recommendation suggesting an approach to establish surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants in WW, besides specifying the methodology for WW concentration and RNA extraction. Therefore, different groups have approached the issue with different strategies, mainly focusing on WW concentration methods, but only a few groups highlighted the importance of prefiltering WW samples and/or purification of RNA samples. Aiming to obtain high-quality sequencing data allowing variants detection, we compared four experimental conditions generated from the treatment of: i) WW samples by WW filtration and ii) the extracted RNA by DNase treatment, purification and concentration of the extracted RNA. To evaluate the best condition, the results were assessed by focusing on several sequencing parameters, as the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing from WW is crucial for variant detection. Overall, the best sequencing result was obtained by filtering the WW sample. Moreover, the present study provides an overview of some sequencing parameters to consider when optimizing a method for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants from WW samples, which can also be applied to any sample preparation methodology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Robotto
- Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), Torino, Italy
| | - Carlotta Olivero
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Pozzi
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Claudia Strumia
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Camilla Crasà
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Cristina Fedele
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Maddalena Derosa
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Martino
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Stefania Latino
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Giada Scorza
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Civra
- Dept. of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - David Lembo
- Dept. of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano, Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Quaglino
- Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), Torino, Italy
| | - Enrico Brizio
- Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), Torino, Italy
| | - Denis Polato
- Department of Regional Centre of Molecular Biology, Environmental Protection Agency of Piedmont (Arpa Piemonte), La Loggia, Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Farkas K, Kevill JL, Adwan L, Garcia-Delgado A, Dzay R, Grimsley JMS, Lambert-Slosarska K, Wade MJ, Williams RC, Martin J, Drakesmith M, Song J, McClure V, Jones DL. Near-source passive sampling for monitoring viral outbreaks within a university residential setting. Epidemiol Infect 2024; 152:e31. [PMID: 38329110 PMCID: PMC10894896 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268824000190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has proven to be a powerful tool for the population-level monitoring of pathogens, particularly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). For assessment, several wastewater sampling regimes and methods of viral concentration have been investigated, mainly targeting SARS-CoV-2. However, the use of passive samplers in near-source environments for a range of viruses in wastewater is still under-investigated. To address this, near-source passive samples were taken at four locations targeting student hall of residence. These were chosen as an exemplar due to their high population density and perceived risk of disease transmission. Viruses investigated were SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VOCs), influenza viruses, and enteroviruses. Sampling was conducted either in the morning, where passive samplers were in place overnight (17 h) and during the day, with exposure of 7 h. We demonstrated the usefulness of near-source passive sampling for the detection of VOCs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Furthermore, several outbreaks of influenza A and sporadic outbreaks of enteroviruses (some associated with enterovirus D68 and coxsackieviruses) were identified among the resident student population, providing evidence of the usefulness of near-source, in-sewer sampling for monitoring the health of high population density communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Jessica L. Kevill
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Latifah Adwan
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | | | - Rande Dzay
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Jasmine M. S. Grimsley
- Data Analytics & Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
- The London Data Company, London, UK
| | | | - Matthew J. Wade
- Data Analytics & Surveillance Group, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Rachel C. Williams
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Javier Martin
- Division of Vaccines, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Mark Drakesmith
- Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jiao Song
- Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Victoria McClure
- Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Davey L. Jones
- School of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
- Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Child HT, Airey G, Maloney DM, Parker A, Wild J, McGinley S, Evens N, Porter J, Templeton K, Paterson S, van Aerle R, Wade MJ, Jeffries AR, Bassano I. Comparison of metagenomic and targeted methods for sequencing human pathogenic viruses from wastewater. mBio 2023; 14:e0146823. [PMID: 37877702 PMCID: PMC10746264 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01468-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology is a powerful tool for monitoring the emergence and spread of viral pathogens at the population scale. Typical polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods of quantitative and genomic monitoring of viruses in wastewater provide high sensitivity and specificity. However, these methods are limited to the surveillance of target viruses in a single assay and require prior knowledge of the target genome(s). Metagenomic sequencing methods may represent a target-agnostic approach to viral wastewater monitoring, allowing for the detection of a broad range of target viruses, including potentially novel and emerging pathogens. In this study, targeted and untargeted metagenomic sequencing methods were compared with tiled-PCR sequencing for the detection and genotyping of viral pathogens in wastewater samples. Deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing was unable to generate sufficient genome coverage of human pathogenic viruses for robust genomic epidemiology, with samples dominated by bacteria. Hybrid-capture enrichment of shotgun libraries for respiratory viruses led to significant increases in genome coverage for a range of targets. Tiled-PCR sequencing led to further improvements in genome coverage compared to hybrid capture for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, enterovirus D68, norovirus GII, and human adenovirus F41 in wastewater samples. In conclusion, untargeted shotgun sequencing was unsuitable for genomic monitoring of the low virus concentrations in wastewater samples analyzed in this study. Hybrid-capture enrichment represented a viable method for simultaneous genomic epidemiology of a range of viral pathogens, while tiled-PCR sequencing provided the optimal genome coverage for individual viruses with the minimum sequencing depth. IMPORTANCE Most public health initiatives that monitor viruses in wastewater have utilized quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and whole genome PCR sequencing, mirroring techniques used for viral epidemiology in individuals. These techniques require prior knowledge of the target viral genome and are limited to monitoring individual or small groups of viruses. Metagenomic sequencing may offer an alternative strategy for monitoring a broad spectrum of viruses in wastewater, including novel and emerging pathogens. In this study, while amplicon sequencing gave high viral genome coverage, untargeted shotgun sequencing of total nucleic acid samples was unable to detect human pathogenic viruses with enough sensitivity for use in genomic epidemiology. Enrichment of shotgun libraries for respiratory viruses using hybrid-capture technology provided genotypic information on a range of viruses simultaneously, indicating strong potential for wastewater surveillance. This type of targeted metagenomics could be used for monitoring diverse targets, such as pathogens or antimicrobial resistance genes, in environmental samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harry T. Child
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - George Airey
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel M. Maloney
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Abby Parker
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wild
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Suzie McGinley
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Evens
- Environment Agency, National Monitoring, Starcross, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Porter
- Environment Agency, National Monitoring, Starcross, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Templeton
- Viral Genotyping Reference Laboratory Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Paterson
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ronny van Aerle
- International Centre of Excellence for Aquatic Animal Health, Cefas, Weymouth, United Kingdom
- Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Wade
- Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron R. Jeffries
- Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Bassano
- Analytics & Data Science Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|