Monitoring community health through wastewater based epidemiology: a new analytical framework & technological approaches towards community infectious

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Full title: Monitoring community health through wastewater based epidemiology: a new analytical framework and technological approaches towards community infectious disease diagnostics.This project will aim to develop new analysis technologies to help with verification of infectious disease spread in urban environment.Can the spread of disease be monitored through the analysis of wastewater for the pathogenic RNA? Rapid identification and management of public health risks in urban environments are urgently needed to sustain city health. In our group and wider networks (ReNEW and ENTRUST, EU INTERWASTE, EU SCORE) we are developing a cutting-edge, evidence based public health diagnostics platform (PHDP) via urban water fingerprinting. We postulate that water from urban dwellings reflects the health status of contributing population as it pools the endo- & exogenous products of that population. Real-time spatiotemporal measurement of these community derived products (biomarkers) allows for rapid evaluation of public health status, prediction of future crises, and enables mitigation strategies for city's stressors, even before they manifest themselves with characteristic endpoints (e.g. mortality in the event of infectious disease epidemics). Mass spectrometry is the method of choice for chemical metabolic markers identification and quantification in water. However, the historical breakthrough allowing for quantification of genetic markers of disease is yet to be achieved. We will initially focus on norovirus and possibly on TB. This will be achieved using waste water sampled from waste water treatment plants in 2 or 3 cities in South West England via the following objectives:1. Development of a new analytical framework for infectious disease diagnostics at the community-level: sampling, sample prep, dPCR for infectious disease.2. Data analysis and statistical approaches (incl. data collected within ENTRUST in close collaboration with Wessex Water) - towards early warning system for disease outbreak.3. New technological approaches for low cost and real time identification of disease outbreak. This might include the development of novel CRISPR and electrochemistry-based detection methodologies.Novel physical sciences methodology:- Development of a methodology for the preparation and analysis of wastewater samples for RNA quantification by dPCR.- Development of a future biosensor methodology (CRISPR/electrochemistry).What will the student be doing:-For both norovirus and coronavirus: analysing Public Health England data to determine the appropriate target pathogen gene. -For norovirus: analysing the genetic variability of norovirus in wastewater by gene sequencing. -For both norovirus and coronavirus: establishing the dynamic range of dPCR for the target pathogen gene.-Developing a sample preparation and stable sample storage methodology for pathogenic RNA from wastewater.-Gathering initial data for norovirus and coronavirus concentration in 1-3 locations.-Initiating regular (weekly/monthly) wastewater sample collection, preparation, storage and analysis for a future biosensor methodology (CRISPR/electrochemistry).-Building that biosensor.-Gathering proof of concept data for the biosensor via the detection of the target gene in synthetic waste water.