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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.
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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
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Alotaibi R, Eifan S, Hanif A, Nour I, Alkathiri A. Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Cross-Assembly Phages in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2167. [PMID: 37764011 PMCID: PMC10535421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092167] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common DNA virus found in wastewaters globally is the cross-assembly phage (crAssphage). King Saud University wastewater treatment plant (KSU-WWTP); Manfoha wastewater treatment plant (MN-WWTP); and the Embassy wastewater treatment plant (EMB-WWTP) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were selected, and 36 untreated sewage water samples during the year 2022 were used in the current study. The meteorological impact on crAssphage prevalence was investigated. CrAssphage prevalence was recorded using PCR and Sanger sequencing. The molecular diversity of crAssphage sequences was studied for viral gene segments from the major capsid protein (MCP) and membrane protein containing the peptidoglycan-binding domain (MP-PBD). KSU-WWTP and EMB-WWTP showed a higher prevalence of crAssphage (83.3%) than MN-WWTP (75%). Phylogenetic analysis of MCP and MP-PBD segments depicted a close relationship to the Japanese isolates. The MCP gene from the current study's isolate WW/2M/SA/2022 depicted zero evolutionary divergence from 3057_98020, 2683_104905, and 4238_99953 isolates (d = 0.000) from Japan. A significant influence of temporal variations on the prevalence of crAssphage was detected in the three WWTPs. CrAssphage displayed the highest prevalence at high temperatures (33-44 °C), low relative humidity (6-14%), and moderate wind speed (16-21 Km/h). The findings provided pioneering insights into crAssphage prevalence and its genetic diversity in WWTPs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Atif Hanif
- Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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3
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Ramos-Barbero MD, Gómez-Gómez C, Sala-Comorera L, Rodríguez-Rubio L, Morales-Cortes S, Mendoza-Barberá E, Vique G, Toribio-Avedillo D, Blanch AR, Ballesté E, Garcia-Aljaro C, Muniesa M. Characterization of crAss-like phage isolates highlights Crassvirales genetic heterogeneity and worldwide distribution. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4295. [PMID: 37463935 PMCID: PMC10354031 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40098-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Crassvirales (crAss-like phages) are an abundant group of human gut-specific bacteriophages discovered in silico. The use of crAss-like phages as human fecal indicators is proposed but the isolation of only seven cultured strains of crAss-like phages to date has greatly hindered their study. Here, we report the isolation and genetic characterization of 25 new crAss-like phages (termed crAssBcn) infecting Bacteroides intestinalis, belonging to the order Crassvirales, genus Kehishuvirus and, based on their genomic variability, classified into six species. CrAssBcn phage genomes are similar to ΦCrAss001 but show genomic and aminoacidic differences when compared to other crAss-like phages of the same family. CrAssBcn phages are detected in fecal metagenomes around the world at a higher frequency than ΦCrAss001. This study increases the known crAss-like phage isolates and their abundance and heterogeneity open the question of what member of the Crassvirales group should be selected as human fecal marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Dolores Ramos-Barbero
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Gómez-Gómez
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Sala-Comorera
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Rodríguez-Rubio
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Morales-Cortes
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Mendoza-Barberá
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gloria Vique
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Toribio-Avedillo
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anicet R Blanch
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisenda Ballesté
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Garcia-Aljaro
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maite Muniesa
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643. Annex. Floor 0, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Lee SY, Yang J, Lee JH. Improvement of crAssphage detection/quantification method and its extensive application for food safety. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1185788. [PMID: 37256047 PMCID: PMC10225732 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1185788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Water-borne diseases are usually caused by the fecal-oral transmission of human fecal pathogens. Traditionally, coliforms and enterococci are widely used as indicator bacteria, but they do not allow to differentiate between human and animal fecal contamination. Owing to its presence only in the human gut environment, crAssphage has been suggested as an alternative indicator of human fecal contamination to overcome the above challenges. In this study, 139 human and 89 animal fecal samples (e.g., chicken, cow, dog, pig, pigeon, and mouse) were collected. For the rapid detection of human crAssphage in fecal samples, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was performed using five different oligonucleotide primer/probe combinations. These included three previously reported oligonucleotide primer/probe combinations (RQ, CPQ056, and CrAssBP) and two newly developed combinations (ORF00018-targeting CrAssPFL1 and ORF00044-targeting CrAssPFL2). The detection rate (crAssphage-positive rate) in human fecal samples were 23.0, 30.2, 28.8, 20.1, and 30.9%, respectively, suggesting CrAssPFL2 showed the highest detection rate. Furthermore, the lowest copy numbers (436.16 copy numbers) could be detected using the CrAssPFL2 combination. Interestingly, no difference in crAssphage detection rates was found between healthy people and intestinal inflammatory patients. As expected, no crAssphage was detected in any animal fecal samples, indicating its human specificity. Furthermore, qPCR analysis of sewage samples collected from five different sewage treatment plants revealed that they were all contaminated with 105.71 copy numbers/mL of crAssphage on average. The simulation test of crAssphage-contaminated food samples also confirmed that the detection limit was from 107.55 copy numbers of crAssphage in foods. Therefore, the newly developed and optimized qPCR would be useful for the sensitive detection of crAssphage while identifying the source of human fecal contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Young Lee
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Institute of Life Sciences and Resources, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Yang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hoon Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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5
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Kelmer GAR, Ramos ER, Dias EHO. Coliphages as viral indicators in municipal wastewater: A comparison between the ISO and the USEPA methods based on a systematic literature review. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119579. [PMID: 36640612 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The use of traditional faecal indicator bacteria as surrogate organisms for pathogenic viruses in domestic wastewater has been noted as a problematic as concentrations and removal rates of bacteria and viruses do not seem to correlate. In this sense, bacteriophages (phages) emerge as potential viral indicators, as they are commonly found in wastewater in high levels, and can be quantified using simple, fast, low-cost methods. Somatic and F-specific coliphages comprise groups of phages commonly used as indicators of water quality. There are two internationally recognised methods to detect and enumerate coliphages in water samples, the International Standardization Organization (ISO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) methods. Both methods are based on the lysis of specific bacterial host strains infected by phages. Within this context, this systematic literature review aimed at gathering concentrations in raw and treated domestic wastewater (secondary, biological treatment systems and post-treatment systems), and removal efficiencies of somatic and F-specific coliphages obtained by ISO and USEPA methods, and then compare both methods. A total of 33 research papers were considered in this study. Results showed that the ISO method is more commonly applied than the USEPA method. Some discrepancies in terms of concentrations and removal efficiencies were observed between both methods. Higher removal rates were observed for both somatic and F-specific coliphages in activated sludge systems when using the USEPA method compared to the ISO method; in other secondary (biological) treatment systems, this was observed only for F-specific coliphages. The use of different standardised methods available might lead to difficulties in obtaining and comparing phage data in different conditions and locations. Future research comparing both ISO and USEPA methods as well as viral and bacterial pathogens and indicators in WWTP is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gisele A R Kelmer
- Postgraduate Programme in Civil Engineering (PEC), Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, Campus UFJF. São Pedro, Juiz de Fora - MG, CEP 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Elloís R Ramos
- Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Course, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, Campus UFJF. São Pedro, Juiz de Fora - MG, CEP 36036-900, Brazil
| | - Edgard H O Dias
- Postgraduate Programme in Civil Engineering (PEC), Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, Campus UFJF. São Pedro, Juiz de Fora - MG, CEP 36036-900, Brazil; Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering (ESA), Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, s/n, Campus UFJF. São Pedro, Juiz de Fora - MG, CEP 36036-900, Brazil.
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6
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Cervantes-Echeverría M, Gallardo-Becerra L, Cornejo-Granados F, Ochoa-Leyva A. The Two-Faced Role of crAssphage Subfamilies in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: Between Good and Evil. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:139. [PMID: 36672880 PMCID: PMC9858991 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral metagenomic studies of the human gut microbiota have unraveled the differences in phage populations between health and disease, stimulating interest in phages' role on bacterial ecosystem regulation. CrAssphage is a common and abundant family in the gut virome across human populations. Therefore, we explored its role in obesity (O) and obesity with metabolic syndrome (OMS) in a children's cohort. We found a significantly decreased prevalence, diversity, and richness of the crAssphage Alpha subfamily in OMS mainly driven by a decrease in the Alpha_1 and Alpha_4 genera. On the contrary, there was a significant increase in the Beta subfamily in OMS, mainly driven by an increase in Beta_6. Additionally, an overabundance of the Delta_8 genus was observed in OMS. Notably, a decreased abundance of crAssphages was significantly correlated with the overabundance of Bacilli in the same group. The Bacilli class is a robust taxonomical biomarker of O and was also significantly abundant in our OMS cohort. Our results suggest that a loss of stability in the Alpha subfamily of crAssphages is associated with O and OMS. Contrary, an overabundance of the Delta subfamily was found in OMS. Our study advises the importance of considering the dual role (good and evil) of crAssphage subfamilies and their participation in conditions such as O, where we suggest that Alpha loss and Delta gain are associated with obese individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adrian Ochoa-Leyva
- Departamento de Microbiologia Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Avenida Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca 62210, Morelos, Mexico
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7
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Jantharadej K, Kongprajug A, Mhuantong W, Limpiyakorn T, Suwannasilp BB, Mongkolsuk S, Sirikanchana K. Comparative genomic analyses of pathogenic bacteria and viruses and antimicrobial resistance genes in an urban transportation canal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157652. [PMID: 35905960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water commuting is a major urban transportation method in Thailand. However, urban boat commuters risk exposure to microbially contaminated bioaerosols or splash. We aimed to investigate the microbial community structures, identify bacterial and viral pathogens, and assess the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) using next-generation sequencing (NGS) at 10 sampling sites along an 18 km transportation boat route in the Saen Saep Canal, which traverses cultural, commercial, and suburban land-based zones. The shotgun metagenomic (Illumina HiSeq) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon (V4 region) (Illumina MiSeq) sequencing platforms revealed diverse microbial clusters aligned with the zones, with explicit segregation between the cultural and suburban sites. The shotgun metagenomic sequencing further identified bacterial and viral pathogens, and ARGs. The predominant bacterial pathogens (>0.5 % relative abundance) were the Burkholderia cepacia complex, Arcobacter butzleri, Burkholderia vietnamiensis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the Enterobacter cloacae complex. The viruses (0.28 %-0.67 % abundance in all microbial sequences) comprised mainly vertebrate viruses and bacteriophages, with encephalomyocarditis virus (33.3 %-58.2 % abundance in viral sequences), hepatitis C virus genotype 1, human alphaherpesvirus 1, and human betaherpesvirus 6A among the human viral pathogens. The 15 ARG types contained 611 ARG subtypes, including those resistant to beta-lactam, which was the most diverse and abundant group (206 subtypes; 17.0 %-27.5 %), aminoglycoside (94 subtypes; 9.6 %-15.3 %), tetracycline (80 subtypes; 15.6 %-20.2 %), and macrolide (79 subtypes; 14.5 %-32.1 %). Interestingly, the abundance of ARGs associated with resistance to beta-lactam, trimethoprim, and sulphonamide, as well as A. butzleri and crAssphage, at the cultural sites was significantly different from the other sites (p < 0.05). We demonstrated the benefits of using NGS to deliver insights into microbial communities, and antimicrobial resistance, both of which pose a risk to human health. Using NGS may facilitate microbial risk mitigation and management for urban water commuters and proximal residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krittayapong Jantharadej
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Akechai Kongprajug
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wuttichai Mhuantong
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Enzyme Technology Research Team, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Tawan Limpiyakorn
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Biotechnology for Wastewater Engineering Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Benjaporn Boonchayaanant Suwannasilp
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Biotechnology for Wastewater Engineering Research Group, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Skorn Mongkolsuk
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology (EHT), OPS, MHESI, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Sabar MA, Honda R, Haramoto E. CrAssphage as an indicator of human-fecal contamination in water environment and virus reduction in wastewater treatment. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118827. [PMID: 35820313 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Viral indicators of human-fecal contamination in wastewaters and environmental waters have been getting much attention in the past decade. Cross-assembly phage (crAssphage) is the most abundant DNA virus in human feces. Recently, the usefulness of crAssphage as a microbial source tracking and water quality monitoring tool for human-fecal contamination has been highlighted. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review on crAssphage in water, focusing on detection methodology, concentration range in various waters and wastewaters, specificity to human-fecal contamination, and reduction in wastewater treatment systems. This review highlights that crAssphage is globally distributed in wastewaters and various fecal-contaminated water bodies at high concentrations without seasonal fluctuations. CrAssphage is highly specific to human-fecal contamination and is rarely found in animal feces. It also has a good potential as a performance indicator to ensure virus reduction in wastewater treatment systems. Accordingly, crAssphage could be an effective tool for monitoring of human-fecal contamination and potential presence of fecal pathogenic microbes in environmental waters. Bridging the research gaps highlighted in this review would make crAssphage a powerful tool to support the control of water-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryo Honda
- Faculty of Geoscience and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan.
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, Japan
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Yasui M, Iso H, Torii S, Matsui Y, Katayama H. Applicability of pepper mild mottle virus and cucumber green mottle mosaic virus as process indicators of enteric virus removal by membrane processes at a potable reuse facility. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117735. [PMID: 34673461 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of wastewater for potable reuse is increasingly becoming a suitable alternative water source to meet the growing urban water needs worldwide. Potable reuse requires reduction of enteric viruses to levels at which they do not pose a risk to human health. Advanced water treatment trains (e.g., microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO), and ultraviolet light and advanced oxidation process (UV/AOP)) provide significant protection and reduce virus loads in highly treated final product waters. Even though viruses are a principal concern, the performance of virus removal by membrane processes is not easily determined. The objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Aichi virus (AiV), pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), and cross-assembly phage (crAssphage) removal as possible process indicators for MF, UF, and RO. Virus log reduction values (LRVs) based on gene copies measured using molecular methods were determined for MF and UF. The median LRVs of all viruses obtained after MF and UF were 2.9 and 3.1, respectively. The LRVs of the proposed indicators were lower than those of human enteric viruses. The morphological and physicochemical difference among indicators was not found to affect LRVs. Therefore, all proposed indicator viruses were determined to be suitable candidates as process indicators for MF and UF. Regarding RO, most of the viruses measured in this study were undetectable in permeate. Only PMMoV and CGMMV were detected showing median LRVs of 2.8 and 2.5, respectively. PMMoV and CGMMV are recommended as good process indicators of physical virus removal for the overall water treatment process.
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Key Words
- AIV, aichi virus
- Abbreviation: MF, microfiltration
- AdV, adenovirus
- CGMMV, cucumber green mottle mosaic virus
- Crassphage, cross-assembly phage
- EF, effluent
- Human enteric virus
- LRV, log reduction value
- MME, molecular method efficiencies
- MNV, Murine Norovirus
- MPC, molecular process control
- Microfiltration
- NV GI, norovirus GI
- NV GII, norovirus GII
- ORSV, Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus
- PCE, primary concentration efficiency
- PMMOV, pepper mild mottle virus
- Process indicator
- RO, reverse osmosis
- Reverse osmosis
- UF, ultrafiltration
- UV/AOP, ultraviolet light and advanced oxidation process
- Ultrafiltration
- Water reuse
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Affiliation(s)
- Midori Yasui
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hikaru Iso
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shotaro Torii
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyuki Katayama
- Department of Urban Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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10
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Makumi A, Mhone AL, Odaba J, Guantai L, Svitek N. Phages for Africa: The Potential Benefit and Challenges of Phage Therapy for the Livestock Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10091085. [PMID: 34572667 PMCID: PMC8470919 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the world’s fastest-growing human populations is in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for more than 950 million people, which is approximately 13% of the global population. Livestock farming is vital to SSA as a source of food supply, employment, and income. With this population increase, meeting this demand and the choice for a greater income and dietary options come at a cost and lead to the spread of zoonotic diseases to humans. To control these diseases, farmers have opted to rely heavily on antibiotics more often to prevent disease than for treatment. The constant use of antibiotics causes a selective pressure to build resistant bacteria resulting in the emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms in the environment. This necessitates the use of alternatives such as bacteriophages in curbing zoonotic pathogens. This review covers the underlying problems of antibiotic use and resistance associated with livestock farming in SSA, bacteriophages as a suitable alternative, what attributes contribute to making bacteriophages potentially valuable for SSA and recent research on bacteriophages in Africa. Furthermore, other topics discussed include the creation of phage biobanks and the challenges facing this kind of advancement, and the regulatory aspects of phage development in SSA with a focus on Kenya.
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Guerin E, Shkoporov AN, Stockdale SR, Comas JC, Khokhlova EV, Clooney AG, Daly KM, Draper LA, Stephens N, Scholz D, Ross RP, Hill C. Isolation and characterisation of ΦcrAss002, a crAss-like phage from the human gut that infects Bacteroides xylanisolvens. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:89. [PMID: 33845877 PMCID: PMC8042965 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01036-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gut phageome comprises a complex phage community of thousands of individual strains, with a few highly abundant bacteriophages. CrAss-like phages, which infect bacteria of the order Bacteroidales, are the most abundant bacteriophage family in the human gut and make an important contribution to an individual's core virome. Based on metagenomic data, crAss-like phages form a family, with four sub-families and ten candidate genera. To date, only three representatives isolated in pure culture have been reported: ΦcrAss001 and two closely related phages DAC15 and DAC17; all are members of the less abundant candidate genus VI. The persistence at high levels of both crAss-like phage and their Bacteroidales hosts in the human gut has not been explained mechanistically, and this phage-host relationship can only be properly studied with isolated phage-host pairs from as many genera as possible. RESULTS Faeces from a healthy donor with high levels of crAss-like phage was used to initiate a faecal fermentation in a chemostat, with selected antibiotics chosen to inhibit rapidly growing bacteria and selectively enrich for Gram-negative Bacteroidales. This had the objective of promoting the simultaneous expansion of crAss-like phages on their native hosts. The levels of seven different crAss-like phages expanded during the fermentation, indicating that their hosts were also present in the fermenter. The enriched supernatant was then tested against individual Bacteroidales strains isolated from the same faecal sample. This resulted in the isolation of a previously uncharacterised crAss-like phage of candidate genus IV of the proposed Alphacrassvirinae sub-family, ΦcrAss002, that infects the gut commensal Bacteroides xylanisolvens. ΦcrAss002 does not form plaques or spots on lawns of sensitive cells, nor does it lyse liquid cultures, even at high titres. In keeping with the co-abundance of phage and host in the human gut, ΦcrAss002 and Bacteroides xylanisolvens can also co-exist at high levels when co-cultured in laboratory media. CONCLUSIONS We report the isolation and characterisation of ΦcrAss002, the first representative of the proposed Alphacrassvirinae sub-family of crAss-like phages. ΦcrAss002 cannot form plaques or spots on bacterial lawns but can co-exist with its host, Bacteroides xylanisolvens, at very high levels in liquid culture without impacting on bacterial numbers. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Guerin
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | - Adam G Clooney
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Karen M Daly
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Niamh Stephens
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Dimitri Scholz
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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Ji M, Liu Z, Sun K, Li Z, Fan X, Li Q. Bacteriophages in water pollution control: Advantages and limitations. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 15:84. [PMID: 33294248 PMCID: PMC7716794 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-020-1378-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater is a breeding ground for many pathogens, which may pose a threat to human health through various water transmission pathways. Therefore, a simple and effective method is urgently required to monitor and treat wastewater. As bacterial viruses, bacteriophages (phages) are the most widely distributed and abundant organisms in the biosphere. Owing to their capacity to specifically infect bacterial hosts, they have recently been used as novel tools in water pollution control. The purpose of this review is to summarize and evaluate the roles of phages in monitoring pathogens, tracking pollution sources, treating pathogenic bacteria, infecting bloom-forming cyanobacteria, and controlling bulking sludge and biofilm pollution in wastewater treatment systems. We also discuss the limitations of phage usage in water pollution control, including phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer, the evolution of bacterial resistance, and phage concentration decrease. This review provides an integrated outlook on the use of phages in water pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhi Ji
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Zichen Liu
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Kaili Sun
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Zhongfang Li
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Hezhou University, Hezhou, 542899 China
| | - Xiangyu Fan
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022 China
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13
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Guerin E, Hill C. Shining Light on Human Gut Bacteriophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:481. [PMID: 33014897 PMCID: PMC7511551 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut is a complex environment that contains a multitude of microorganisms that are collectively termed the microbiome. Multiple factors have a role to play in driving the composition of human gut bacterial communities either toward homeostasis or the instability that is associated with many disease states. One of the most important forces are likely to be bacteriophages, bacteria-infecting viruses that constitute by far the largest portion of the human gut virome. Despite this, bacteriophages (phages) are the one of the least studied residents of the gut. This is largely due to the challenges associated with studying these difficult to culture entities. Modern high throughput sequencing technologies have played an important role in improving our understanding of the human gut phageome but much of the generated sequencing data remains uncharacterised. Overcoming this requires database-independent bioinformatic pipelines and even those phages that are successfully characterized only provide limited insight into their associated biological properties, and thus most viral sequences have been characterized as “viral dark matter.” Fundamental to understanding the role of phages in shaping the human gut microbiome, and in turn perhaps influencing human health, is how they interact with their bacterial hosts. An essential aspect is the isolation of novel phage-bacteria host pairs by direct isolation through various screening methods, which can transform in silico phages into a biological reality. However, this is also beset with multiple challenges including culturing difficulties and the use of traditional methods, such as plaquing, which may bias which phage-host pairs that can be successfully isolated. Phage-bacteria interactions may be influenced by many aspects of complex human gut biology which can be difficult to reproduce under laboratory conditions. Here we discuss some of the main findings associated with the human gut phageome to date including composition, our understanding of phage-host interactions, particularly the observed persistence of virulent phages and their hosts, as well as factors that may influence these highly intricate relationships. We also discuss current methodologies and bottlenecks hindering progression in this field and identify potential steps that may be useful in overcoming these hurdles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Guerin
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Holcomb DA, Stewart JR. Microbial Indicators of Fecal Pollution: Recent Progress and Challenges in Assessing Water Quality. Curr Environ Health Rep 2020; 7:311-324. [PMID: 32542574 PMCID: PMC7458903 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-020-00278-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Fecal contamination of water is a major public health concern. This review summarizes recent developments and advancements in water quality indicators of fecal contamination. RECENT FINDINGS This review highlights a number of trends. First, fecal indicators continue to be a valuable tool to assess water quality and have expanded to include indicators able to detect sources of fecal contamination in water. Second, molecular methods, particularly PCR-based methods, have advanced considerably in their selected targets and rigor, but have added complexity that may prohibit adoption for routine monitoring activities at this time. Third, risk modeling is beginning to better connect indicators and human health risks, with the accuracy of assessments currently tied to the timing and conditions where risk is measured. Research has advanced although challenges remain for the effective use of both traditional and alternative fecal indicators for risk characterization, source attribution and apportionment, and impact evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Holcomb
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7435, USA
| | - Jill R Stewart
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Dr., Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7431, USA.
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15
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Farkas K, Walker DI, Adriaenssens EM, McDonald JE, Hillary LS, Malham SK, Jones DL. Viral indicators for tracking domestic wastewater contamination in the aquatic environment. WATER RESEARCH 2020; 181:115926. [PMID: 32417460 PMCID: PMC7211501 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne enteric viruses are an emerging cause of disease outbreaks and represent a major threat to global public health. Enteric viruses may originate from human wastewater and can undergo rapid transport through aquatic environments with minimal decay. Surveillance and source apportionment of enteric viruses in environmental waters is therefore essential for accurate risk management. However, individual monitoring of the >100 enteric viral strains that have been identified as aquatic contaminants is unfeasible. Instead, viral indicators are often used for quantitative assessments of wastewater contamination, viral decay and transport in water. An ideal indicator for tracking wastewater contamination should be (i) easy to detect and quantify, (ii) source-specific, (iii) resistant to wastewater treatment processes, and (iv) persistent in the aquatic environment, with similar behaviour to viral pathogens. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of 127 peer-reviewed publications, to critically evaluate the effectiveness of several viral indicators of wastewater pollution, including common enteric viruses (mastadenoviruses, polyomaviruses, and Aichi viruses), the pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), and gut-associated bacteriophages (Type II/III FRNA phages and phages infecting human Bacteroides species, including crAssphage). Our analysis suggests that overall, human mastadenoviruses have the greatest potential to indicate contamination by domestic wastewater due to their easy detection, culturability, and high prevalence in wastewater and in the polluted environment. Aichi virus, crAssphage and PMMoV are also widely detected in wastewater and in the environment, and may be used as molecular markers for human-derived contamination. We conclude that viral indicators are suitable for the long-term monitoring of viral contamination in freshwater and marine environments and that these should be implemented within monitoring programmes to provide a holistic assessment of microbiological water quality and wastewater-based epidemiology, improve current risk management strategies and protect global human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK; School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK.
| | - David I Walker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK
| | | | - James E McDonald
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Luke S Hillary
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Davey L Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK; UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia
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16
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Park GW, Ng TFF, Freeland AL, Marconi VC, Boom JA, Staat MA, Montmayeur AM, Browne H, Narayanan J, Payne DC, Cardemil CV, Treffiletti A, Vinjé J. CrAssphage as a Novel Tool to Detect Human Fecal Contamination on Environmental Surfaces and Hands. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 26:1731-1739. [PMID: 32511090 PMCID: PMC7392416 DOI: 10.3201/eid2608.200346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
CrAssphage is a recently discovered human gut–associated bacteriophage. To validate the potential use of crAssphage for detecting human fecal contamination on environmental surfaces and hands, we tested stool samples (n = 60), hand samples (n = 30), and environmental swab samples (n = 201) from 17 norovirus outbreaks for crAssphage by real-time PCR. In addition, we tested stool samples from healthy persons (n = 173), respiratory samples (n = 113), and animal fecal specimens (n = 68) and further sequenced positive samples. Overall, we detected crAssphage in 71.4% of outbreak stool samples, 48%–68.5% of stool samples from healthy persons, 56.2% of environmental swabs, and 60% of hand rinse samples, but not in human respiratory samples or animal fecal samples. CrAssphage sequences could be grouped into 2 major genetic clusters. Our data suggest that crAssphage could be used to detect human fecal contamination on environmental surfaces and hands.
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17
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Wu Z, Greaves J, Arp L, Stone D, Bibby K. Comparative fate of CrAssphage with culturable and molecular fecal pollution indicators during activated sludge wastewater treatment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 136:105452. [PMID: 31931347 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants are typically monitored using fecal indicator bacteria to ensure adequate microbial water quality of the treated effluent. Fecal indicator bacteria exhibit poor correlation with virus fate in the environment, including during wastewater treatment. Viral-based microbial source tracking methods have the potential to overcome this limitation. The recently discovered human gut bacteriophage crAssphage is a promising viral human fecal indicator. In this current study, primary influent, primary effluent, secondary effluent, and final effluent of a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant were analyzed for a suite of fecal indicators to evaluate the suitability of crAssphage as a wastewater process indicator for virus removal. CrAssphage was the most abundant fecal indicator measured through the wastewater treatment process. Culturable and molecular bacterial fecal pollution indicators showed higher removal than viral fecal pollution indicators, including crAssphage, confirming the necessity of a viral-specific fecal monitoring target. CrAssphage was strongly correlated with adenovirus and polyomavirus molecular indicators through the wastewater treatment process. Literature comparison demonstrated site-specific removal of molecular fecal indicators during wastewater treatment highlighting the need for local performance validation. The high abundance of crAssphage and correlation with pathogenic viruses suggests the potential suitability of crAssphage as a viral fecal pollution process indicator during wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Justin Greaves
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Lillian Arp
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Daniel Stone
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA.
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18
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Applicability of crAssphage, pepper mild mottle virus, and tobacco mosaic virus as indicators of reduction of enteric viruses during wastewater treatment. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3616. [PMID: 32107444 PMCID: PMC7046655 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60547-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of crAssphage, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) as indicators of the reduction of human enteric viruses during wastewater treatment. Thirty-nine samples were collected from three steps at a wastewater treatment plant (raw sewage, secondary-treated sewage, and final effluent) monthly for a 13-month period. In addition to the three indicator viruses, eight human enteric viruses [human adenoviruses, JC and BK polyomaviruses, Aichi virus 1 (AiV-1), enteroviruses, and noroviruses of genogroups I, II, and IV] were tested by quantitative PCR. Indicator viruses were consistently detected in the tested samples, except for a few final effluents for crAssphage and TMV. The mean concentrations of crAssphage were significantly higher than those of most tested viruses. The concentrations of crAssphage in raw sewage were positively correlated with the concentrations of all tested human enteric viruses (p <0.05), suggesting the applicability of crAssphage as a suitable indicator to estimate the concentrations of human enteric viruses in raw sewage. The reduction ratios of AiV-1 (1.8 ± 0.7 log10) were the lowest among the tested viruses, followed by TMV (2.0 ± 0.3 log10) and PMMoV (2.0 ± 0.4 log10). Our findings suggested that the use of not only AiV-1 and PMMoV but also TMV as indicators of reductions in viral levels can be applicable during wastewater treatment.
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Honap TP, Sankaranarayanan K, Schnorr SL, Ozga AT, Warinner C, Lewis CM. Biogeographic study of human gut-associated crAssphage suggests impacts from industrialization and recent expansion. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226930. [PMID: 31940321 PMCID: PMC6961876 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CrAssphage (cross-assembly phage) is a bacteriophage that was first discovered in human gut metagenomic data. CrAssphage belongs to a diverse family of crAss-like bacteriophages thought to infect gut commensal bacteria belonging to Bacteroides species. However, not much is known about the biogeography of crAssphage and whether certain strains are associated with specific human populations. In this study, we screened publicly available human gut metagenomic data from 3,341 samples for the presence of crAssphage sensu stricto (NC_024711.1). We found that crAssphage prevalence is low in traditional, hunter-gatherer populations, such as the Hadza from Tanzania and Matses from Peru, as compared to industrialized, urban populations. Statistical comparisons showed no association of crAssphage prevalence with variables such as age, sex, body mass index, and health status of individuals. Phylogenetic analyses show that crAssphage strains reconstructed from the same individual over multiple time-points, cluster together. CrAssphage strains from individuals from the same study population do not always cluster together. Some evidence of clustering is seen at the level of broadly defined geographic regions, however, the relative positions of these clusters within the crAssphage phylogeny are not well-supported. We hypothesize that this lack of strong biogeographic structuring is suggestive of an expansion event within crAssphage. Using a Bayesian dating approach, we estimate that this expansion has occurred fairly recently. Overall, we determine that crAssphage presence is associated with an industrialized lifestyle and the absence of strong biogeographic structuring within global crAssphage strains is likely due to a recent population expansion within this bacteriophage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanvi P. Honap
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Stephanie L. Schnorr
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Andrew T. Ozga
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Christina Warinner
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Cecil M. Lewis
- Laboratories of Molecular Anthropology and Microbiome Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
- Department of Anthropology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, United States of America
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Siranosian BA, Tamburini FB, Sherlock G, Bhatt AS. Acquisition, transmission and strain diversity of human gut-colonizing crAss-like phages. Nat Commun 2020; 11:280. [PMID: 31941900 PMCID: PMC6962324 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
CrAss-like phages are double-stranded DNA viruses that are prevalent in human gut microbiomes. Here, we analyze gut metagenomic data from mother-infant pairs and patients undergoing fecal microbiota transplantation to evaluate the patterns of acquisition, transmission and strain diversity of crAss-like phages. We find that crAss-like phages are rarely detected at birth but are increasingly prevalent in the infant microbiome after one month of life. We observe nearly identical genomes in 50% of cases where the same crAss-like clade is detected in both the mother and the infant, suggesting vertical transmission. In cases of putative transmission of prototypical crAssphage (p-crAssphage), we find that a subset of strains present in the mother are detected in the infant, and that strain diversity in infants increases with time. Putative tail fiber proteins are enriched for nonsynonymous strain variation compared to other genes, suggesting a potential evolutionary benefit to maintaining strain diversity in specific genes. Finally, we show that p-crAssphage can be acquired through fecal microbiota transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gavin Sherlock
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ami S Bhatt
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Global phylogeography and ancient evolution of the widespread human gut virus crAssphage. Nat Microbiol 2019; 4:1727-1736. [PMID: 31285584 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0494-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Microbiomes are vast communities of microorganisms and viruses that populate all natural ecosystems. Viruses have been considered to be the most variable component of microbiomes, as supported by virome surveys and examples of high genomic mosaicism. However, recent evidence suggests that the human gut virome is remarkably stable compared with that of other environments. Here, we investigate the origin, evolution and epidemiology of crAssphage, a widespread human gut virus. Through a global collaboration, we obtained DNA sequences of crAssphage from more than one-third of the world's countries and showed that the phylogeography of crAssphage is locally clustered within countries, cities and individuals. We also found fully colinear crAssphage-like genomes in both Old-World and New-World primates, suggesting that the association of crAssphage with primates may be millions of years old. Finally, by exploiting a large cohort of more than 1,000 individuals, we tested whether crAssphage is associated with bacterial taxonomic groups of the gut microbiome, diverse human health parameters and a wide range of dietary factors. We identified strong correlations with different clades of bacteria that are related to Bacteroidetes and weak associations with several diet categories, but no significant association with health or disease. We conclude that crAssphage is a benign cosmopolitan virus that may have coevolved with the human lineage and is an integral part of the normal human gut virome.
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Host Specificity and Sensitivity of Established and Novel Sewage-Associated Marker Genes in Human and Nonhuman Fecal Samples. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00641-19. [PMID: 31076423 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00641-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial source tracking (MST) methods measure fecal contamination levels and identify possible sources using quantitative PCR (qPCR) that targets host-associated fecal microorganisms. To date, most established MST assays for human sources, especially bacterial markers, have shown some nonhuman host cross-reactions. Recently developed assays, such as the crAssphage CPQ_056, Lachnospiraceae Lachno3, and Bacteroides BacV6-21, have more limited information on host sensitivity and host specificity for human or sewage sources, particularly in countries other than the United States. In this study, we rigorously evaluated six sewage-associated MST assays (i.e., Bacteroides HF183, human adenovirus [HAdV], human polyomavirus [HPyV], crAssphage CPQ_056, Lachno3, and BacV6-21) to show advantages and disadvantages of their applications for MST. A total of 29 human and 3 sewage samples and 360 nonhuman fecal samples across 14 hosts collected from a subtropical region of Australia were tested for marker host specificity, host sensitivity, and concentrations. All sewage samples were positive for all six marker genes tested in this study. Bacterial markers were more prevalent than viral markers in human feces. Testing against animal hosts showed human feces (or sewage)-associated marker gene specificity was HAdV (1.00) > HPyV (0.99) > crAssphage CPQ_056 (0.98) > HF183 (0.96) > Lachno3 (0.95) > BacV6-21 (0.90), with marker concentrations in some animal fecal samples being 3 to 5 orders of magnitude lower than those in sewage. When considering host specificity, sensitivity, and concentrations in source samples, the HF183, Lachno3, and crAssphage CPQ_056 tests were the most suitable assays in this study for sewage contamination tracking in subtropical waters of Australia.IMPORTANCE Large financial investments are required to remediate fecal contamination sources in waterways, and accurate results from field studies are crucial to build confidence in MST approaches. Host specificity and sensitivity are two main performance characteristics for consideration when choosing MST assays. Ongoing efforts for marker assay validation will improve interpretation of results and could shed light on patterns of occurrence in nontarget hosts that might explain the underlying drivers of cross-reaction of certain markers. For field applications, caution should be taken to choose appropriate MST marker genes and assays based on available host specificity and sensitivity data and background knowledge of the contaminating sources in the study area. Since many waterborne pathogens are viruses, employing both viral and bacterial markers in investigations could provide insight into contamination dynamics and ecological behavior in the environment. Therefore, combined usage of marker assays is recommended for more accurate and informative sewage contamination detection and fecal source resolution.
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Farkas K, Adriaenssens EM, Walker DI, McDonald JE, Malham SK, Jones DL. Critical Evaluation of CrAssphage as a Molecular Marker for Human-Derived Wastewater Contamination in the Aquatic Environment. FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY 2019; 11:113-119. [PMID: 30758724 PMCID: PMC6513805 DOI: 10.1007/s12560-019-09369-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The discharge of human-derived wastewater represents a major threat to water quality with the potential for waterborne disease outbreaks mainly associated with enteric viruses. To prevent illnesses, indicators associated with fecal contamination are monitored in polluted areas, however, their prevalence often does not correlate well with viral pathogens. In this study, we used crAssphage, a recently discovered human-specific gut-associated bacteriophage, for the surveillance of wastewater-derived viral contamination. Untreated and treated wastewater, surface water, sediment and mussel samples were collected monthly over 1 year from the Conwy River and estuary (UK) and were analyzed for crAssphage marker by quantitative PCR. This is the first long-term catchment-to-coast scale study of environmental crAssphage concentrations. CrAssphage was detected in all sample types and showed no distinct seasonal pattern. CrAssphage concentrations were 2 × 105-109 genome copies (gc)/L in all untreated wastewater influent and 107-108 gc/L in secondary treated effluent samples, 3 × 103 gc/L-3 × 107 gc/L in surface water samples (94% positive) and 2 × 102-104 gc/g sediment (68% positive) and mussel digestive tissue (79% positive). CrAssphage concentrations were 1-5 log10 higher than human enteric virus titers (norovirus, sapovirus, adenovirus, polyomavirus). Our results indicate that crAssphage is well suited to tracking human wastewater contamination and pollution risk assessment in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kata Farkas
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
| | - Evelien M Adriaenssens
- Microbiology Research Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - David I Walker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth, Dorset, UK
| | - James E McDonald
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Shelagh K Malham
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey, UK
| | - Davey L Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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24
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Ballesté E, Pascual-Benito M, Martín-Díaz J, Blanch AR, Lucena F, Muniesa M, Jofre J, García-Aljaro C. Dynamics of crAssphage as a human source tracking marker in potentially faecally polluted environments. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 155:233-244. [PMID: 30851594 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.02.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that crAssphage is abundant in human faecal samples worldwide. It has thus been postulated as a potential microbial source tracking (MST) marker to detect human faecal pollution in water. However, an effective implementation of crAssphage in water management strategies will depend on an understanding of its environmental dynamics. In this work, the abundance and temporal distribution of crAssphage was analysed in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants using different sewage treatments, and in two rivers (water and sediments) that differ in pollution impact and flow regime. Additionally, the influence of environmental conditions (temperature and rainfall) on the removal of the marker was studied along a river section, and natural inactivation was assessed by a mesocosms approach. Molecular and culture-based tools were used to compare crAssphage abundance and dynamics with those of bacteria and bacteriophages currently applied as global indicators (E. coli, somatic coliphages, Bacteroides GA17 bacteriophages, and the human-associated MST markers HF183 and HMBif). CrAssphage concentrations in sewage effluent and river samples were similar to those of HF183 and HMBif and higher than other general and/or culture-based indicators (by 2-3 orders of magnitude). Measurement of crAssphage abundance revealed no temporal variability in the effluent, although rainfall events affected the dynamics, possibly through the mobilisation of sediments, where the marker was detected in high concentrations, and an increase in diffuse and point pollution. Another factor affecting crAssphage inactivation was temperature. Its persistence was longer compared with other bacterial markers analysed by qPCR but lower than culturable markers. The results of this study support the use of crAssphage as a human source tracking marker of faecal pollution in water, since it has similar abundances to other molecular human MST markers, yet with a longer persistence in the environment. Nevertheless, its use in combination with infectious bacteriophages is probably advisable.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ballesté
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Pascual-Benito
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Martín-Díaz
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A R Blanch
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Lucena
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Muniesa
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Jofre
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C García-Aljaro
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Microbiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 643, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Fecal pollution can explain antibiotic resistance gene abundances in anthropogenically impacted environments. Nat Commun 2019; 10:80. [PMID: 30622259 PMCID: PMC6325112 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07992-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Discharge of treated sewage leads to release of antibiotic resistant bacteria, resistance genes and antibiotic residues to the environment. However, it is unclear whether increased abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in sewage and sewage-impacted environments is due to on-site selection pressure by residual antibiotics, or is simply a result of fecal contamination with resistant bacteria. Here we analyze relative resistance gene abundance and accompanying extent of fecal pollution in publicly available metagenomic data, using crAssphage sequences as a marker of human fecal contamination (crAssphage is a bacteriophage that is exceptionally abundant in, and specific to, human feces). We find that the presence of resistance genes can largely be explained by fecal pollution, with no clear signs of selection in the environment, with the exception of environments polluted by very high levels of antibiotics from manufacturing, where selection is evident. Our results demonstrate the necessity to take into account fecal pollution levels to avoid making erroneous assumptions regarding environmental selection of antibiotic resistance. Increased abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment may be due to selection pressure by residual antibiotics, or to contamination with resistant bacteria from human faeces. Here, Karkman et al. analyze metagenomic data and find evidence supporting the second scenario in most cases.
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26
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Ahmed W, Payyappat S, Cassidy M, Besley C, Power K. Novel crAssphage marker genes ascertain sewage pollution in a recreational lake receiving urban stormwater runoff. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 145:769-778. [PMID: 30223182 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.08.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Considerable efforts have been made in recent years in developing novel marker genes for fecal pollution tracking in environmental waters. CrAssphage are recently discovered DNA bacteriophage that are highly abundant in human feces and untreated sewage. In this study, we evaluated the host-sensitivity and -specificity of the newly designed crAssphage qPCR assays (Stachler et al., 2017) CPQ_056 and CPQ_064 (i.e., marker genes) in fecal samples collected from various human and several animal host groups in Australia. We also investigated the utility of these marker genes to detect sewage pollution in an urban recreational lake (i.e., Lake Parramatta) in Sydney, NSW. The mean concentrations of CPQ_056 and CPQ_064 marker genes in untreated sewage were 9.43 ± 0.14 log10 GC/L and 8.91 ± 0.17 log10 GC/L, respectively, 2 to 3 orders of magnitude higher than other sewage-associated viruses used in microbial source tracking studies. Among 177 animal fecal samples tested from 11 species, the host-specificity values for CPQ_056 and CPQ_064 marker genes were 0.95 and 0.93, respectively. Limited cross-reactivity was observed with cat fecal and cattle wastewater samples. Abundance of crAssphage markers were monitored in an urban lake that receives stormwater runoff. The concentrations of both markers were higher (CPQ_056 ranging from 3.40 to 6.04 log10 GC/L and CPQ_064 ranging from 2.90 to 5.47 log10 GC/L) in 20 of 20 (for CPQ_056) and 18 of 20 (for CPQ_064) samples collected after storm events with gauged sewer overflows compared to dry weather event (10 of 10 samples were qPCR negative for the CPQ_056 and 8 of 10 were negative for the CPQ_064 marker genes) suggesting sewage pollution was transported by urban stormwater runoff to Lake Parramatta. The results of the study may provide context for management of sewage pollution from gauged overflow points of the sewerage system in the catchment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia.
| | - Sudhi Payyappat
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150, Australia
| | - Michele Cassidy
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150, Australia
| | - Colin Besley
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150, Australia
| | - Kaye Power
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW, 2150, Australia
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Shkoporov AN, Khokhlova EV, Fitzgerald CB, Stockdale SR, Draper LA, Ross RP, Hill C. ΦCrAss001 represents the most abundant bacteriophage family in the human gut and infects Bacteroides intestinalis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4781. [PMID: 30429469 PMCID: PMC6235969 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
CrAssphages are an extensive and ubiquitous family of tailed bacteriophages, predicted to infect bacteria of the order Bacteroidales. Despite being found in ~50% of individuals and representing up to 90% of human gut viromes, members of this viral family have never been isolated in culture and remain understudied. Here, we report the isolation of a CrAssphage (ΦCrAss001) from human faecal material. This bacteriophage infects the human gut symbiont Bacteroides intestinalis, confirming previous in silico predictions of the likely host. DNA sequencing demonstrates that the bacteriophage genome is circular, 102 kb in size, and has unusual structural traits. In addition, electron microscopy confirms that ΦcrAss001 has a podovirus-like morphology. Despite the absence of obvious lysogeny genes, ΦcrAss001 replicates in a way that does not disrupt proliferation of the host bacterium, and is able to maintain itself in continuous host culture during several weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey N Shkoporov
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland.
| | | | - C Brian Fitzgerald
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland
| | - Stephen R Stockdale
- Department of Food Biosciences, Teagasc Food Research Centre Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - Lorraine A Draper
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland
| | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland
- Department of Food Biosciences, Teagasc Food Research Centre Moorepark, Fermoy, P61 C996, Ireland
- College of Science, Engineering and Food Science, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland.
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland.
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28
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Guerin E, Shkoporov A, Stockdale SR, Clooney AG, Ryan FJ, Sutton TDS, Draper LA, Gonzalez-Tortuero E, Ross RP, Hill C. Biology and Taxonomy of crAss-like Bacteriophages, the Most Abundant Virus in the Human Gut. Cell Host Microbe 2018; 24:653-664.e6. [PMID: 30449316 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
CrAssphages represent the most abundant virus in the human gut microbiota, but the lack of available genome sequences for comparison has kept them enigmatic. Recently, sequence-based classification of distantly related crAss-like phages from multiple environments was reported, leading to a proposed familial-level taxonomic group. Here, we assembled the metagenomic sequencing reads from 702 human fecal virome/phageome samples and analyzed 99 complete circular crAss-like phage genomes and 150 contigs ≥70 kb. In silico comparative genomics and taxonomic analysis enabled a classification scheme of crAss-like phages from human fecal microbiomes into four candidate subfamilies composed of ten candidate genera. Laboratory analysis was performed on fecal samples from an individual harboring seven distinct crAss-like phages. We achieved crAss-like phage propagation in ex vivo human fecal fermentations and visualized short-tailed podoviruses by electron microscopy. Mass spectrometry of a crAss-like phage capsid protein could be linked to metagenomic sequencing data, confirming crAss-like phage structural annotations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Guerin
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Stephen R Stockdale
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., Cork, Ireland
| | - Adam G Clooney
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Feargal J Ryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Thomas D S Sutton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co., Cork, Ireland
| | - Colin Hill
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
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29
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Stachler E, Akyon B, de Carvalho NA, Ference C, Bibby K. Correlation of crAssphage qPCR Markers with Culturable and Molecular Indicators of Human Fecal Pollution in an Impacted Urban Watershed. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:7505-7512. [PMID: 29874457 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Environmental waters are monitored for fecal pollution to protect public health. Many previously developed human-specific fecal pollution indicators lack adequate sensitivity to be reliably detected in environmental waters or do not correlate well with viral pathogens. Recently, two novel human sewage-associated source tracking qPCR markers were developed based on the bacteriophage crAssphage, CPQ_056 and CPQ_064. These assays are highly human specific, abundant in sewage, and are viral-based, suggesting great promise for environmental application as human fecal pollution indicators. A 30-day sampling study was conducted in an urban stream impacted by combined sewer overflows to evaluate the crAssphage markers' performance in an environmental system. The crAssphage markers were present at concentrations of 4.02-6.04 log10 copies/100 mL throughout the study period, indicating their high abundance and ease of detection in polluted environmental waters. In addition, the crAssphage assays were correlated with rain events, molecular markers for human polyomavirus and HF183, as well as culturable E. coli, enterococci, and somatic coliphage. The CPQ_064 assay correlated strongly to a greater number of biological indicators than the CPQ_056 assay. This study is the first to evaluate both crAssphage qPCR assays in an extended environmental application of crAssphage markers for monitoring of environmental waters. It is also the first study to compare crAssphage marker concentration with other viral-based indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse Stachler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
| | - Benay Akyon
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
| | - Nathalia Aquino de Carvalho
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
| | - Christian Ference
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15261 , United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences , University of Notre Dame , South Bend , Indiana 46556 , United States
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