A new study titled Exploring waterborne viruses in groundwater: Quantification and Virome characterization via passive sampling and targeted enrichment sequencing has been published in Water Research. The research, conducted as part of the UPWATER project and co-authored by Marta Rusiñol and Cristina Mejías-Molina from the University of Barcelona (UB) is crucial for improving public health and water management policies, particularly as groundwater becomes an increasingly important resource in the face of climate change.
What did the study investigate?
Aquifers, which provide drinking water for nearly half the world’s population, face significant challenges from microbial contamination, particularly from waterborne viruses. This study, conducted as part of the UPWATER project, investigates the sources of urban groundwater contamination using viral passive sampling (VPS), quantitative PCR and target enrichment sequencing (TES).*
We assessed the abundance of eight viral pathogens, and investigated the virome diversity of groundwater in the aquifer of the Besòs River Delta in Catalonia. Over a period of 7 months, 114 samples are collected from the aquifer to adsorb viruses over a 10-day period. Human faecal contamination was detected in nearly 50 % of the groundwater samples. In addition, deep sequencing revealed a diverse virome in the aquifer, with detection of human pathogens, such as the adenovirus, astrovirus, calicivirus and enterovirus.
Time-integrated sampling using VPS increases the likelihood of virus detection and, when combined with TES, can provide a deeper understanding of virus prevalence in this important water compartment, the study says. This approach is expected to streamline long-term monitoring efforts and enable small communities or water managers with limited resources to effectively manage their groundwater reservoirs.
*Targeted enrichment sequencing is a technique used to focus on specific viral genetic material in a complex sample. It enhances the detection of low-abundance viruses by selectively enriching the regions of interest, allowing for more precise identification and analysis of viruses in environments like groundwater.