16S analysis of university dormitory raw wastewater samples, collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
While the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in sewage is well-established, the accompanying shifts in microbial communities during the COVID-19 pandemic remain underexplored. This study examined the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on microbial composition in raw sewage using high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Wastewater samples were collected over a one-year period from six University of Tennessee, Knoxville dormitories, and SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations were quantified via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Distinct bacterial community profiles were observed across dormitories, emphasizing the importance of accounting for spatial variation in wastewater microbiome studies. Samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 exhibited significantly reduced bacterial diversity and a higher prevalence of dormitory-specific microbial taxa. Notably, a strong correlation was observed between SARS-CoV-2 presence and the relative abundance of enteric and potentially pathogenic bacteria. This association persisted even in comparisons between positive and negative samples, suggesting potential long-term microbial dysbiosis linked to COVID-19 infection or recovery. These findings offer important insights into the interplay between viral outbreaks and microbial dynamics in wastewater environments.