Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence
Abstract The progression of COVID-19 worldwide can be tracked by identifying mutations within the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 that occur as a function of time. Such efforts currently rely on sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2 in patient specimens (direct sequencing) or of virus isolated from pat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.05.0202 |
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| author | John A. Lednicky Sripriya N. Shankar Maha A. Elbadry Julia C. Gibson Md. Mahbubul Alam Caroline J. Stephenson Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez J. Glenn Morris Carla N. Mavian Marco Salemi James R. Clugston Chang-Yu Wu |
| author_facet | John A. Lednicky Sripriya N. Shankar Maha A. Elbadry Julia C. Gibson Md. Mahbubul Alam Caroline J. Stephenson Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez J. Glenn Morris Carla N. Mavian Marco Salemi James R. Clugston Chang-Yu Wu |
| author_sort | John A. Lednicky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The progression of COVID-19 worldwide can be tracked by identifying mutations within the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 that occur as a function of time. Such efforts currently rely on sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2 in patient specimens (direct sequencing) or of virus isolated from patient specimens in cell cultures. A pilot SARS-CoV-2 air sampling study conducted at a clinic within a university student health care center detected the virus vRNA, with an estimated concentration of 0.87 virus genomes L−1 air. To determine whether the virus detected was viable (‘live’), attempts were made to isolate the virus in cell cultures. Virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) were observed within two days post-inoculation of Vero E6 cells with collection media from air samples; however, rtRT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 vRNA from cell culture were negative. Instead, three other fast-growing human respiratory viruses were isolated and subsequently identified, illustrating the challenge in isolating SARS-CoV-2 when multiple viruses are present in a test sample. The complete SAR-CoV-2 genomic sequence was nevertheless determined by Sanger sequencing and most closely resembles SARS-CoV-2 genomes previously described in Georgia, USA. Results of this study illustrate the feasibility of tracking progression of the COVID-19 pandemic using environmental aerosol samples instead of human specimens. Collection of a positive sample from a distance more than 2 m away from the nearest patient traffic implies the virus was in an aerosol. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b6c4b56fef84d398a2b9809a0544fb9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b6c4b56fef84d398a2b9809a0544fb92025-02-09T12:18:50ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092020-05-012061167117110.4209/aaqr.2020.05.0202Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic SequenceJohn A. Lednicky0Sripriya N. Shankar1Maha A. Elbadry2Julia C. Gibson3Md. Mahbubul Alam4Caroline J. Stephenson5Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez6J. Glenn Morris7Carla N. Mavian8Marco Salemi9James R. Clugston10Chang-Yu Wu11Department of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental and Global Health, University of FloridaAerosol Dynamics Inc.Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of FloridaEmerging Pathogens Institute, University of FloridaEmerging Pathogens Institute, University of FloridaStudent Health Care Center, University of FloridaDepartment of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of FloridaAbstract The progression of COVID-19 worldwide can be tracked by identifying mutations within the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 that occur as a function of time. Such efforts currently rely on sequencing the genome of SARS-CoV-2 in patient specimens (direct sequencing) or of virus isolated from patient specimens in cell cultures. A pilot SARS-CoV-2 air sampling study conducted at a clinic within a university student health care center detected the virus vRNA, with an estimated concentration of 0.87 virus genomes L−1 air. To determine whether the virus detected was viable (‘live’), attempts were made to isolate the virus in cell cultures. Virus-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) were observed within two days post-inoculation of Vero E6 cells with collection media from air samples; however, rtRT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 vRNA from cell culture were negative. Instead, three other fast-growing human respiratory viruses were isolated and subsequently identified, illustrating the challenge in isolating SARS-CoV-2 when multiple viruses are present in a test sample. The complete SAR-CoV-2 genomic sequence was nevertheless determined by Sanger sequencing and most closely resembles SARS-CoV-2 genomes previously described in Georgia, USA. Results of this study illustrate the feasibility of tracking progression of the COVID-19 pandemic using environmental aerosol samples instead of human specimens. Collection of a positive sample from a distance more than 2 m away from the nearest patient traffic implies the virus was in an aerosol.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.05.0202AerosolAir samplingCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | John A. Lednicky Sripriya N. Shankar Maha A. Elbadry Julia C. Gibson Md. Mahbubul Alam Caroline J. Stephenson Arantzazu Eiguren-Fernandez J. Glenn Morris Carla N. Mavian Marco Salemi James R. Clugston Chang-Yu Wu Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence Aerosol and Air Quality Research Aerosol Air sampling COVID-19 |
| title | Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence |
| title_full | Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence |
| title_fullStr | Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence |
| title_short | Collection of SARS-CoV-2 Virus from the Air of a Clinic within a University Student Health Care Center and Analyses of the Viral Genomic Sequence |
| title_sort | collection of sars cov 2 virus from the air of a clinic within a university student health care center and analyses of the viral genomic sequence |
| topic | Aerosol Air sampling COVID-19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2020.05.0202 |
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