Research Projects

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 is the biggest threat to the humanity today. The virus is transmitted through inhalation of respiratory droplets and from touching inanimate surfaces contaminated with virus (1). Bedsides respiratory droplet, the virus is also excreted in high amount in the feces of the infected patients (2). The inadequate wastewater treatment, open drainage systems, together with the open-defecation practices are the real-time challenges in densely populated countries like India. Therefore, human feces and sewage system is an emerging concern for public health and its rapid monitoring is the key to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission, tracing virus variants and detecting virus importations. Our recent cross neutralization study on wild type (WT) and Delta SARS-CoV-2 suggest that rapidly evolving SARS-CoV-2 strains may evade the preexisting immunity induced due to vaccination or prior infection (3). Therefore, in order to develop proper/updated vaccine and diagnostics, a repository of emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains is essential to be maintained. Keeping in view the above facts, this study is planned for isolation, identification and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage and domestic wastewater and COVID-19 patients from Hisar (Haryana).