SARS-CoV-2 sequencing of dormitory wastewater grab samples identifies viral variants.
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1.1 × 106 gene copies/L in wastewater sufficient for WGS
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Viral shedding from 3 infected students suggests circulation of 2 cluster strains.
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WGS paired with WBE can help address declining testing challenges.
Abstract
In the Fall of 2020, university campuses in the United States resumed on-campus instruction and implemented wastewater monitoring for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests were deployed successfully to detect viral RNA in wastewater across campuses, the feasibility of detecting viral variants from a residential building like a dormitory was unclear. Here, we demonstrate that wastewater surveillance from a dormitory with at least three infected students could lead to the identification of viral genomes with more than 95% coverage. Our results indicate that viral variant detection from wastewater is achievable at a dormitory and that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wastewater surveillance programs will benefit from the implementation of viral whole genome sequencing at universities.