Assessing fungal diversity and viability in sewage and wastewater treatment systems

Abstract

Microbial pathogens are pervasive members of the global environment–both natural and human-made. The recent emergence of several new pathogenic fungal species, including species detectable in sewage and harboring multi-drug resistance to antifungal therapies, underscores the critical need for increased surveillance of these pathogens in environmental sources such as wastewater. We aim to systematically assess the presence and viability of fungal species throughout the wastewater treatment chain in order to work towards a broader mission of enhancing our ability to monitor and ultimately remove pathogens in sewage. To do so, we will use sequencing-based methods to identify and characterize fungal species in samples from a wastewater treatment facility and assess the impact of treatment on fungal community composition. In parallel, we will assess the viability of different fungal species present in these samples using culture-based microbiology methods. At the intersection of public health, environmental engineering, and biology, our proposed work applies an interdisciplinary approach to address a critical and timely challenge related to the monitoring of infectious diseases and potential reservoirs of antimicrobial resistance. Our findings will inform comprehensive models describing the fate of pathogens in wastewater and can be used to track infections, assess health risks, and improve treatment systems.