Seasonal Viral Community Composition in Wastewater Influent
Alexandra Jose
Department of Biology
Faculty Supervisor: Archana Anand
Wastewater treatment plants are useful sites for monitoring viruses circulating in communities because viral particles and viral genetic material are shed in human waste and concentrated in wastewater influent. The persistence and diversity of viruses in treated wastewater used for irrigation raises questions about their potential risks to human health and the efficacy of wastewater treatment protocols. Characterizing which viruses are present—and how viral communities change over time—can improve our understanding of community-level viral dynamics and support the development of wastewater-based monitoring approaches.
In this study, we analyzed weekly wastewater influent samples collected across two seasons (wet, dry). Using metagenomic sequencing data, we characterized viral community composition and compared patterns across seasons to identify prominent viral groups and shifts in relative abundance. We also integrated findings from published literature to interpret viral persistence and variability in wastewater systems. Overall, this work provides a seasonal snapshot of viral diversity in influent wastewater and highlights the value of wastewater metagenomics for tracking viral community trends.