CAREER: Wastewater Treatment as a Conduit and Control of Emerging Respiratory Viruses in the Environment

1351188 wigginton由病毒引起的人类呼吸道感染是全世界死亡的一个主要原因，而且正以越来越快的速度变得越来越普遍。最近的两个例子是严重急性呼吸系统综合症（SARS）和中东呼吸系统综合症（MERS）。最近有研究表明，这些病毒可通过粪便传播，因此它们可能存在于废水中。在提出处理呼吸道病毒向环境释放的建议之前，必须评估实际的感染病毒载量。这项拟议的研究将确定废水中呼吸道病毒的典型浓度。这些数据将使废水处理领域的人员能够制定如何控制这些威胁的计划。为了解决这一问题，本研究包括以下三个研究任务：1)建立一种细胞培养/质谱（ICC-MS）综合方法，同时识别包膜呼吸道病毒株并确定其感染状态；2)在两年的时间里，通过一个标准的污水处理厂评估原始废水中传染性包膜呼吸道病毒的水平；3)进行实验室规模的实验，以优化在爆发或季节性高峰期间可能出现的背景和病毒载量增加的条件下去除呼吸道病毒的选定废水处理步骤。这一研究计划将为废水中传染性呼吸道病毒的命运提供独特和迫切需要的信息。迄今为止，对水生环境中病毒的研究几乎完全集中在检测肠道病毒的存在和传染性上，尽管呼吸道病毒很可能存在。如果废水中存在高水平的传染性呼吸道病毒，那么结果可能导致废水处理的广泛修改和采用疫情防备计划。或者，如果结果表明废水和废水产品中传染性呼吸道病毒极少，那么这些信息将为公众提供宝贵的保证，特别是在其他令人紧张的疫情事件期间。为了向公众和废水处理机构传播该项目的成果，将举办关于废水处理中的病原体的专业讲习班。对于较年轻的学生，将为安娜堡动手博物馆开发一个关于废水处理过程和研究的互动展览。

1351188WiggintonRespiratory tract infections in humans, caused by viruses, are a major cause of deaths worldwide and they are becoming more prevalent at an increasing rate. Two recent examples of this are the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS). Recently, it has been shown that these can be transmitted through fecal matter and hence they may be present in wastewater. Before recommendations can be provided to deal with the release of respiratory viruses to the environment, the actual infective virus loads must be assessed. This proposed study will determine what typical concentration of respiratory tract viruses are in wastewater. These data will allow the those in the area of wastewater treatment to formulet plans on how to control these threats.To seek answers to this problem, during this study the following three research tasks are included:1) Develop an integrated cell culture/mass spectrometry (ICC-MS) method that simultaneously identifies enveloped respiratory virus strains and confirms their infective state;2) Assess levels of infective enveloped respiratory viruses in raw wastewater and through a standard wastewater treatment plant over a period of two years, and, 3) Conduct bench-scale experiments to optimize selected wastewater treatment steps for respiratory virus removal under background and heightened viral load conditions that would be possible during an outbreak or seasonal peaks. This research plan will provide a unique and urgently needed information on the fate of infective respiratory viruses in wastewater. To date, research on viruses in the aquatic environment has focused almost entirely on detecting the presence and infectivity of enteric viruses, despite the fact the respiratory viruses are likely present. If high levels of infective respiratory viruses are present in wastewater, then the results may lead to widespread modifications in wastewater treatment and the adoption of outbreak preparedness plans. Alternatively, if results suggest minimal infective respiratory viruses in wastewater and wastewater products, then the information will provide valuable reassurance to the public, particularly during otherwise stressful outbreak events. To disseminate the results of this project to both the public and to wastewater agencies, professional workshops on pathogens in wastewater treatment will be developed. For the younger students an interactive exhibit on wastewater treatment processes and research for the Ann Arbor Hands on Museum will be developed.