Scientists Find That Sewage Is A Virus Goldmine

By Katherine Harmon
(Click here for the original article and podcast)

Sewage. We know it's filled with germs that can make us sick, which is why we try to keep it far away from food and water supplies. But sewage should be the first place to go—if you’re looking for unknown viruses. So say the authors of an article in the journal mBio. [Paul Cantalupo, et al, Raw Sewage Harbors Diverse Viral Populations]

Only about 3,000 viruses have been catalogued by scientists. That might sound like a lot, but recent genomic studies have shown that it’s probably only a tiny fraction of the number that actually exist.

The article’s authors examined a sample of untreated wastewater in what you could call a poop-of-concept analysis. And they found 234 known viruses that can infect people, plants, animals and other organisms. They also detected genetic material from unknown viruses representing more than 50 different virus families. They even found traces of some viruses so different from ones already characterized that they couldn't even be placed in a rough category.

So there’s a virus-rich universe, ripe for exploration, waiting just at the end of the plumbing.

Comments

[caprawalie]

10:47 PM on 10/05/2011

What a great discovery we all thought sewage was the elixir of life, Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth....does this mean we can't drink it anymore

[Justgot2thinking]

02:08 PM on 10/07/2011

Just when I had a Potty Party planned! Phooy!

[Ragnar Danneskjold]

03:06 PM on 10/05/2011

THis is where science gets dangerous. Let's go find some new viruses and hope we don't forget we have our gloves on when we pick our nose and spread it to humanity.

[lightningbolt]

08:32 PM on 10/05/2011

Not at all.  Finding new viruses and studying them can help prevent diseases.

[Joe3245]

04:17 AM on 10/06/2011

Not to mention the potential for genetic engineering, since that is pretty much what viruses do on a cell by cell basis.

[Savage Lotus]

01:31 PM on 10/05/2011

I apologize for my horrible spelling in the previous comment ;-)

[tjconkster]

09:39 PM on 10/05/2011

That's OK...it was probably induced by a virus!

[Savage Lotus]

01:30 PM on 10/05/2011

What? Human waste contains bacteria and pathogens? Who would have thought! LOL
I used to work in wastewater treatment and it is common knowledge in that field that if you are cosntantly exposed to low evels of those pathogens through exposure at work, you develop an incredibly strong immune system. Its true. Its just like people who work in teh medical field. You go through an initial phase of gettign sick a lot, then you almost never get sick.

[lovelybunchofcoconuts]

04:11 PM on 10/05/2011

HOw interesting. So to strengthen your immune system a regular person (not working in sewage) would do what? I just can't imagine a way to expose oneself safely.

[niumarmion]

08:21 PM on 10/05/2011

That is why the people of India have so many immunities. Too bad they are unwilling to solve their over-population problem.

[gloriaswanson43]

12:18 PM on 10/05/2011

This is not new. I watched a tv program talking about water treatment and viruses and bacteria were discussed.

[MT59501]

11:26 AM on 10/05/2011

I wonder how many of those viruses end up surviving the treatment process and then are expelled into the rivers where drinking water is drawn from.

[Savage Lotus]

01:26 PM on 10/05/2011

No many - If they undergo wastewater treatment. The process is quite effective. Most of the solids come out of the water throught the treatment process and then the microorganisms are either killed or sterilized as the last step of the process (disinfection through chlorine or UV light typically) before discharge into a river. Every wasteaeter treatement facility's discharge is closely monitored by the state government and the EPA. I used to work in this field and we regularly had to monitor the "health" of the surface water that we discharged into. We also had to monitor dissolved oxygen levels downstream as well as nitrogen and phosphorus levels.

[Savage Lotus]

01:28 PM on 10/05/2011

I forgot to add - Additionally, the drinking water is then treated by a water treatment plant and disinfected AGAIN in that process. Its pretty safe unless someone is being grossly negligent.

[CPAwADD]

11:26 AM on 10/05/2011

Makes sense. Sewage is obviously a bacterial gold mine, therefore it stands to reason that it would also be a viral one as well.

[StephenJK]

02:36 AM on 10/10/2011

Why would it necessarily be a viral goldmine?

[CPAwADD]

10:09 AM on 10/10/2011

Viruses need other organisms to replicate, there are an abundance of viruses which specifically target different types of bacteria called bacteriophages. There are many of them, therefore it stands to reason that sewage which is chock full of bacteria would also be chock full of viruses.