SARS-CoV-2 virus in Raw Wastewater from Student Residence Halls with concomitant 16S rRNA Bacterial Community Structure changes

The detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in sewage is well-established, but the concomitant changes in microbial compositions during the pandemic remain insufficiently explored. This study investigates the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on microbial compositions in raw sewage, utilizing 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze wastewater samples collected from six dormitories over a one-year field trial at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was assessed using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Significant variations in bacterial composition were evident across the six dormitories, highlighting the importance of independently considering spatial differences when evaluating the raw wastewater microbiome. Positive samples for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited a prominent representation of exclusive species across all dormitories, coupled with significantly reduced bacterial diversity compared to negative samples. The correlation observed between the relative abundance of enteric pathogens and potential pathogens at sampling sites introduces a significant dimension to our understanding of COVID-19, especially the notable correlation observed in positive SARS-CoV-2 samples. Furthermore, the significant correlation in the relative abundance of potential pathogens between positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 raw sewage samples may be linked to the enduring effects of microbial dysbiosis observed during COVID-19 recovery. These findings provide valuable insights into the microbial dynamics in raw sewage during the COVID-19 pandemic. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement This study was funded by the University of Tennessee Office of Reserach ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: University of Tennessee Institutional Biosafety Committee. IBC-20-549-2 I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors