TY - JOUR
T1 - Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant spread
T2 - The wastewater surveillance approach
AU - Carcereny, Albert
AU - Garcia-Pedemonte, David
AU - Martínez-Velázquez, Adán
AU - Quer, Josep
AU - Garcia-Cehic, Damir
AU - Gregori, Josep
AU - Antón, Andrés
AU - Andrés, Cristina
AU - Pumarola, Tomàs
AU - Chacón-Villanueva, Carme
AU - Borrego, Carles M.
AU - Bosch, Albert
AU - Guix, Susana
AU - Pintó, Rosa M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/5/15
Y1 - 2022/5/15
N2 - Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) offers an overview of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating among the population thereby serving as a proper surveillance method. The variant of concern (VOC) Alpha was first identified in September 2020 in the United Kingdom, and rapidly became dominant across Europe. Our objective was to elucidate the Alpha VOC outcompetition rate and identify mutations in the spike glycoprotein (S) gene, indicative of the circulation of the Alpha VOC and/or other variants in the population through wastewater analysis. In the period covered by this study (November 2020–April 2021), forteen wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were weekly sampled. The total number of SARS-CoV-2 genome copies per L (GC/L) was determined with a Real-Time qPCR, targeting the N gene. Surveillance of the Alpha VOC circulation was ascertained using a duplex RT-qPCR, targeting and discriminating the S gene. Our results showed that in a period of 6 weeks the Alpha VOC was present in all the studied WWTPs, and became dominant in 11 weeks on average. The outcompetition rates of the Alpha VOC were estimated, and their relationship with different parameters statistically analyzed. The rapid spread of the Alpha VOC was influenced by its initial input and by the previous circulation of SARS-COV-2 in the population. This latter point could be explained by its higher transmissibility, particularly advantadgeous when a certain degree of herd immunity exists. Moreover, the presence of signature mutations of SARS-COV-2 variants were established by deep-sequencing of the complete S gene. The circulation of the Alpha VOC in the area under study was confirmed, and additionally two combinations of mutations in the S glycoprotein (T73A and D253N, and S477N and A522S) that could affect antibody binding were identified.
AB - Wastewater based epidemiology (WBE) offers an overview of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating among the population thereby serving as a proper surveillance method. The variant of concern (VOC) Alpha was first identified in September 2020 in the United Kingdom, and rapidly became dominant across Europe. Our objective was to elucidate the Alpha VOC outcompetition rate and identify mutations in the spike glycoprotein (S) gene, indicative of the circulation of the Alpha VOC and/or other variants in the population through wastewater analysis. In the period covered by this study (November 2020–April 2021), forteen wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) were weekly sampled. The total number of SARS-CoV-2 genome copies per L (GC/L) was determined with a Real-Time qPCR, targeting the N gene. Surveillance of the Alpha VOC circulation was ascertained using a duplex RT-qPCR, targeting and discriminating the S gene. Our results showed that in a period of 6 weeks the Alpha VOC was present in all the studied WWTPs, and became dominant in 11 weeks on average. The outcompetition rates of the Alpha VOC were estimated, and their relationship with different parameters statistically analyzed. The rapid spread of the Alpha VOC was influenced by its initial input and by the previous circulation of SARS-COV-2 in the population. This latter point could be explained by its higher transmissibility, particularly advantadgeous when a certain degree of herd immunity exists. Moreover, the presence of signature mutations of SARS-COV-2 variants were established by deep-sequencing of the complete S gene. The circulation of the Alpha VOC in the area under study was confirmed, and additionally two combinations of mutations in the S glycoprotein (T73A and D253N, and S477N and A522S) that could affect antibody binding were identified.
KW - Alpha VOC
KW - NGS
KW - Outcompetition rate
KW - Variant of concern
KW - Wastewater-based epidemiology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123303441&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112720
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112720
M3 - Article
C2 - 35074352
AN - SCOPUS:85123303441
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 208
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
M1 - 112720
ER -