Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
Session Number
Project ID: BIO 12
Advisor(s)
Dr. Rachel Poretsky; University of Illinois at Chicago
Discipline
Biology
Start Date
19-4-2023 9:35 AM
End Date
19-4-2023 9:50 AM
Abstract
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) has been utilized in various countries to control and address the spread of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This field aids public health officials in making real-time decisions as viral particles are present in the body residues of infected individuals, even those who are asymptomatic. WBE is a non-invasive and cost-effective technique that can be applied in regions with limited resources, as it does not require direct contact with infected individuals. However, there are differences in the laboratory methods employed to quantify and calculate the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. For instance, laboratories have reported a recovery of the spike-in proxy virus, bovine coronavirus (BCoV), above 100%. To further evaluate the efficacy of using a proxy virus to capture the degradation occurring between sample concentration and extraction in wastewater, a Bovine Rotavirus-Coronavirus vaccine stock was prepared at a 1:100 dilution and added to 3 triplicate samples, while the other set of triplicate samples were left unspiked. The emerging technology of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) was used to detect and quantify the presence of BCoV in both sample sets. Environmental factors and farming practices are hypothesized to contribute to high recovery efficiency.
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) has been utilized in various countries to control and address the spread of infectious diseases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This field aids public health officials in making real-time decisions as viral particles are present in the body residues of infected individuals, even those who are asymptomatic. WBE is a non-invasive and cost-effective technique that can be applied in regions with limited resources, as it does not require direct contact with infected individuals. However, there are differences in the laboratory methods employed to quantify and calculate the recovery of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. For instance, laboratories have reported a recovery of the spike-in proxy virus, bovine coronavirus (BCoV), above 100%. To further evaluate the efficacy of using a proxy virus to capture the degradation occurring between sample concentration and extraction in wastewater, a Bovine Rotavirus-Coronavirus vaccine stock was prepared at a 1:100 dilution and added to 3 triplicate samples, while the other set of triplicate samples were left unspiked. The emerging technology of digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) was used to detect and quantify the presence of BCoV in both sample sets. Environmental factors and farming practices are hypothesized to contribute to high recovery efficiency.