Microbiome signature in wastewater is predictive of COVID-19 case rates

Researchers examined the microbial composition of wastewater in relation to COVID-19 case rates. They found that certain bacteria are associated with case numbers, including species such as Blautia, Dorea, and Akkermansia, which decrease during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and pathogens like Ruminococcus gnavus and Ruminococcus torques, which increase. Predictive models showed that a combination of bacteria and SARS-CoV-2 gene copies is effective for estimating current cases. Changes in the microbiome caused by COVID-19 are detectable in wastewater even in low-population areas. The results suggest that wastewater microbiome can be useful for monitoring public health burden of COVID-19 and potentially other infectious diseases.