Using Wastewater Surveillance for Detection of COVID-19 Virus

由于COVID-19是在感染者的粪便中流出的，因此利用废水监测来了解COVID-19病毒在城市中的程度的机会是巨大的。这项研究将制定必要和关键的协议，使社区能够获得有关COVID-19病毒携带者的循证知识的重要见解。例如，废水监测提供了了解社区内COVID-19携带者范围的机会（例如，废水中COVID-19浓度的明显增加可以转化为理解新一波COVID-19是否正在开始，或者，如果COVID-19病例在其城市的局部地区集中增加）可靠的废水监测程序是真正了解病毒是否得到控制的关键。 除了基于PCR的SARS-CoV-2检测外，该研究还将采用宏基因组全基因组测序方法，为COVID-19监测提供有用的数据。从浓缩的污水样品中提取RNA将通过一系列程序和技术进行。基于废水的流行病学策略包括首先通过逆转录酶将冠状病毒RNA转录为互补DNA（cDNA），然后通过真实的时间聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）扩增所得DNA以改善信号检测。将需要测序技术来确认废水样本中存在足够多的病毒，以作为指标。最终，其目的是为各级政府提供可靠的废水监测程序，以真正了解是否正在控制病毒。

Since COVID-19 is shed in the feces of infected people, the opportunity to use surveillance of wastewater to understand the extent of COVID-19 virus within cities is enormous. This research will develop the necessary and critical protocols needed to allow a community to gain important insights of evidence-based knowledge regarding carriers of the COVID-19 virus. For example, wastewater surveillance provides the opportunity to understand the extent of COVID-19 carriers within a community (e.g. increases in COVID-19 concentrations evident in the wastewater may be translatable into understanding whether a new wave of COVID-19 is beginning, or, if concentrations of COVID-19 cases are increasing in a localized area of their municipality) Reliable procedures for wastewater surveillance are key to really understanding whether control of the virus is occurring. In addition to PCR-based detection of SARS-CoV-2, this research will also employ a metagenomic whole genome sequencing approach to provide useful data for COVID-19 surveillance. RNA extractions from concentrated sewage samples will be conducted via a series of procedures and technologies. The wastewater-based epidemiology strategy involves first transcribing coronavirus RNA into complementary DNA (cDNA) by the reverse transcriptase enzyme, then amplifying the resultant DNA via real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to improve signal detection. Sequencing techniques will be needed to confirm viral presence in wastewater samples in sufficiently large numbers to be indicators. Ultimately, the intent is to provide governments at all levels, with reliable procedures for wastewater surveillance to really understand whether control of the virus is occurring.