Nathaniel Mills
Research Mentor: Marisa Eisenberg
Mentor Department: Epidemiology & Complex Systems, Public Health
Author(s): Nathaniel Mills, Elizabeth Salzman, Abigail Monahan
Session: Session 4 (1:00 PM – 1:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 86
Abstract
The PERISCOPE project investigates the shedding of respiratory viruses in waste samples. This project seeks to quantify viral load in individual waste samples along with viral sicknesses using trivalent testing during seasons of high respiratory illness. Fecal and urine samples are collected from volunteer participants and then analyzed using a technique called digital droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR) to detect and identify pathogens and viral load. This project aims to use this data over a period of time to better understand viral shedding patterns in wastewater during seasons of high illness rates. In past studies, related projects have developed similar models for viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. A greater understanding of individuals’ shedding of respiratory viruses in the wastewater supply will allow for better predictive models and will in turn lead to more preventative measures, reducing the negative impact of these viruses.
