Optimization and Application of a Multiplex Digital PCR Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Belgian Influent Wastewater.
Boogaerts, Tim ; Van den Bogaert, Siel ; ; El Masri, Diala ; De Roeck, Naomi ; ; ; Lahousse, Lies ; ; van Nuijs, Alexander L.N. ... show 1 more
Citations
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) of SARS-CoV-2 has been used as a complementary indicator to follow up on the trends in the COVID-19 spread in Belgium and in many other countries. To further develop the use of WBE, a multiplex digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) assay was optimized, validated and applied for the measurement of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) in influent wastewater (IWW) samples. Key mutations were targeted in the different VOC strains, including SΔ69/70 deletion, N501Y, SΔ241 and SΔ157. The presented bioanalytical method was able to distinguish between SARS-CoV-2 RNA originating from the wild-type and B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and B.1.617.2 variants. The dPCR assay proved to be sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in IWW since the limit of detection of the different targets ranged between 0.3 and 2.9 copies/µL. This developed WBE approach was applied to IWW samples originating from different Belgian locations and was able to monitor spatio-temporal changes in the presence of targeted VOC strains in the investigated communities. The present dPCR assay developments were realized to bring added-value to the current national WBE of COVID-19 by also having the spatio-temporal proportions of the VoC in presence in the wastewaters.
Description
Date
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Chapter title
Publication type
Collections
Files
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Citation
Topic(s)
Disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) #22545#
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) #22356#
Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance #22654#
Related project
WWSURV #1000522#
