SARS-CoV-2 Water Monitoring
Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 prevalence and variants in wastewater in Valencia
As part of the Atalaya R&D&I project, the capacity of our GO servicios Laboratory (sequencing and SARS areas) and R&D&I Services was put to the test to transform wastewater analysis into a vital epidemiological surveillance tool.
Sequencing the full viral genome in Valencia’s sewage system has allowed the monitoring of circulating variants, demonstrating that wastewater is a faithful mirror of the overall health status of a population.
The challenge: seeing the invisible amid declining clinical data
With the progressive decrease in the availability of genomic data from clinical samples—which are often limited to individuals with severe symptoms—an important information gap emerged. Our main challenge was to obtain a real and comprehensive snapshot of the epidemiological situation that included the progression of variants in asymptomatic patients, who escape traditional clinical screenings but continue to act as vectors of transmission.
The solution
This is an interdisciplinary effort involving virus quantification in wastewater samples using real-time PCR, sequencing of the different circulating variants in the sample, and the use of a bioinformatics algorithm. We validated this methodology with the poster presentation “Monitoring and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants present in the wastewater of Valencia” at the X Bioinformatics and Genomics Conference. The key to success lay in combining laboratory techniques with advanced data analysis to transform water samples into useful health information.
Applied Technology: PCR, Sequencing, and Bioinformatics
- Quantification and Sequencing: We used real-time PCR to quantify viral load and sequencing techniques to identify the different circulating variants in the sample.
- Bioinformatics Algorithm: We implemented a specific algorithm to analyze raw sequencing results, allowing us to break down the complexity of the variants present in wastewater.
These tools not only strengthened current epidemiological surveillance but also served as a precursor for future water quality projects.
Results and conclusion
- Comprehensive epidemiological snapshot: Ability to detect variants in the general population, including asymptomatic individuals.
- Support for health authorities: Provision of objective data to facilitate decision-making in pandemic management.
- Scientific advancement: Increased knowledge of circulating variants, shared with the scientific community (Catalan Society of Biology).
- Analytical versatility: Consolidation of a technique applicable to other viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and antibiotic resistance.
This work demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration generates direct benefits for both healthcare management and the scientific community. The surveillance tool we developed confirms that sequencing applied to wastewater is essential for understanding population health, enabling the monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 today and, in the future, assessing water quality against new biological challenges.
Infographic
Graphic summary of the study results.
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