Candidate Name: Nita Khanal
Program: Infrastructure and Environmental systems
Committee Chairs: Dr. Mariya Munir
Committee Members: Dr. Cynthia Gibas, Dr. Jessica S. Roseberry, Dr. M. Yasin Akhtar Raja

Abstract:

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and antibiotic resistance are major health challenges affecting communities worldwide. This research integrates the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in indoor environments and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in small-scale wastewater systems and optimizes the detection methods for these contaminants. First, the SARS-CoV-2 was investigated on high-touch surfaces and in indoor air. Samples were collected from December 2021 to March 2022 within two high-traffic buildings at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Nearly half of the tested surfaces in the Student Union and 25% in the University Recreation Center tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, while all air samples were negative. These findings were correlated with county-level COVID-19 trends. Second, four RNA extraction kits commonly used for wastewater surveillance were evaluated. Among them, the Zymo Quick RNA Viral Kit outperformed the other three kits and was also the most cost-effective. Additionally, three clinically important ARGs, blaKPC, blaOXA-48, and vanA, were analyzed in influent samples from seven small-scale wastewater treatment plants in North Carolina. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) were used to quantify them. blaKPC and blaOXA-48 were consistently detected by both methods, while vanA was detectable only by ddPCR at very low concentrations. Therefore, this research provides useful insight into the importance of environmental surveillance for tracking viral pathogens and antibiotic resistance in community settings.