Tracing the fate of wastewater viruses reveals catchment-scale virome diversity and connectivity. (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adriaenssens, Evelien M.; Farkas, Kata; McDonald, James E.; Jones, David L.; Allison, Heather E.; McCarthy, Alan J.
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 203(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: Viromics -- viral diversity -- wastewater viruses -- aquatic viruses -- shellfish viruses -- wastewater contamination -- virus ecology; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Highlights: Viromics enables viral source tracking of human viruses in the aquatic environment Viromics shows geographically and niche-distinct viral communities Viral richness increases from wastewater to receiving riverine/estuarine water Full genomes of sapo/rota/astro/picornaviruses were found in wastewater Sapovirus was detected in all sample types highlighting public health risks ABSTRACT: The discharge of wastewater-derived viruses in aquatic environments impacts catchment-scale virome composition. To explore this, we used viromic analysis of RNA and DNA virus-like particles to holistically track virus communities entering and leaving wastewater treatment plants and the connecting river catchment system and estuary. We reconstructed >40 000 partial viral genomes into 10 149 species-level groups, dominated by dsDNA and (+)ssRNA bacteriophages ( Caudoviricetes and Leviviricetes ) and a small number of genomes that could pose a risk to human health. We found substantial viral diversity and geographically distinct virus communities associated with different wastewater treatment plants. River and estuarine water bodies harboured more diverse viral communities in downstream locations, influenced by tidal movement and proximity to wastewater treatment plants. Shellfish and beach sand were enriched in viral communities when compared with the surrounding water, acting as entrapment matrices for virus particles. Extensive phylogenetic analyses of environmental-derived and reference sequences showed the presence of human-associated sapovirus GII in all sample types, multiple rotavirus A strains in wastewater and a diverse set of picorna-like viruses associated with shellfish. We conclude that wastewater-derived viral genetic material is commonly deposited in the environment and can be traced throughout the freshwater-marine continuum of the river catchment, where it is influenced by local geography, weather events and tidal effects. Our data illustrate the utility of viromic analyses for wastewater- and environment-based ecology and epidemiology, and we present a conceptual model for the circulation of all types of viruses in a freshwater catchment. Graphical Abstract: Image, graphical abstract