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

1351188 Wiggington由病毒引起的人类呼吸道感染是全世界死亡的主要原因，并且正在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和中东呼吸系统综合症。 最近，已经表明这些可以通过粪便传播，因此它们可能存在于废水中。在提供建议以处理呼吸道病毒释放到环境中之前，必须评估实际的传染性病毒载量。这项拟议的研究将确定废水中呼吸道病毒的典型浓度。为解决这一问题，本研究开展了以下三个方面的研究工作：1）建立一种细胞培养/质谱（ICC-MS）联用技术，可同时鉴定呼吸道包膜病毒株并确定其感染状态; 2）评估未经处理的废水中和通过标准废水处理厂的两年期间内的感染性包膜呼吸道病毒水平，以及，3）进行实验室规模的实验，以优化选定的废水处理步骤，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。这项研究计划将提供一个独特的和迫切需要的信息的命运传染性呼吸道病毒在废水中。迄今为止，对水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疫情准备计划的采用。或者，如果结果表明废水和废水产品中的感染性呼吸道病毒最少，则该信息将为公众提供有价值的保证，特别是在其他紧张的爆发事件期间。为了向公众和废水处理机构传播这一项目的成果，将举办关于废水处理中病原体的专业讲习班。 对于年轻的学生，将为安阿伯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.