Understanding the Fate of Fungi in Sewage and Sewage-Contaminated Surface Waters

Abstract

Fungi are a chronically understudied class of human pathogens. The rise of antifungal resistance and the recent emergence of several new pathogenic fungi underscores the critical need for increased surveillance of these pathogens in the environment, including human-built infrastructure such as sewer systems. And yet, little is known about the fungi present in sewage, their persistence through wastewater treatment, or the threat they may pose to human health. This project aims to fill this gap: enhancing our ability to monitor and ultimately remove fungal pathogens from sewage. Using state-of-the-art sequencing and culturing techniques, we will assess the presence and viability of fungal species in samples from geographically diverse sewersheds and sewage-contaminated waters along the Eastern Seaboard. Our work also seeks to unite researchers across disciplines with interest in these environmental fungal communities–or mycobiomes. By establishing a public database, we aim to provide a forum for sharing datasets and developing standardized protocols for working with wastewater fungi. At the intersection of public health, environmental engineering, and biology, our work addresses a critical and timely challenge related to monitoring infectious diseases.