Development of a Droplet Digital PCR to Monitor SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant BA.2 in Wastewater Samples.

ABSTRACT: Wastewater-based surveillance can be used as a complementary method to other SARS-CoV-2 surveillance systems. It allows the emergence and spread of infections and SARS-CoV-2 variants to be monitored in time and place. This study presents an RT-ddPCR method that targets the T19I amino acid mutation in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes, which is specific to the BA.2 variant (omicron). The T19I assay was evaluated both in silico and in vitro for its inclusivity, sensitivity, and specificity. Moreover, wastewater samples were used as a proof of concept to monitor and quantify the emergence of the BA.2 variant from January until May 2022 in the Brussels-Capital Region which covers a population of more than 1.2 million inhabitants. The in silico analysis showed that more than 99% of th

SUBMITTER: Van Poelvoorde LAE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10059707 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature