The Sewage Microbiome Dynamics of Different Serving Neighborhoods in Charleston, Illinois

Abstract

The complex microbial ecosystem within sewage systems holds significant implications for environmental and public health. Unlike studies on wastewater treatment plant microbiomes, upstream sewage systems have not been studied widely. This research investigated the dynamic sewage microbiome across diverse serving neighborhoods in Charleston, Illinois, encompassing residential, hospital, industrial, and university areas. Drawing upon recent advancements in microbiome research, the study aimed to unravel the spatial and temporal variations in microbial structures. Three times between June to December 2023 sewage samples were collected from manholes in the areas mentioned above. Community DNA was extracted and sequenced for the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene (515F-926R) using the Illumina MiSeq platform. We found distinct microbial compositions across serving communities, with residential area exhibiting the highest microbial diversity compared to other community types with the dominance of Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, Verrucomicrobiota, and Actinomycetota., while hospital sewage samples had the lowest diversity and similar microbiome. Seasonally, Bacteroidota dominated residential sewage samples across all seasons, with Bacillota being more prevalent during fall and winter. Industrial and hospital sewage samples were consistently characterized by Bacteroidota and Pseudomonadota throughout the year. Seasonal variations influenced Campylobacterota, with an increase in this phylum observed in the hospital environment during the fall. The microbial composition of sewage microbiomes is significantly influenced by community types and seasonal variations. The presence of pathogenic genera such as Campylobacter in the hospital environment during the fall highlights the need for continuous monitoring to prevent potential outbreaks. This suggests that community-specific factors drive microbial composition, while seasonal variations act as secondary modulators. These points out the importance of tailored wastewater management strategies that account for community-specific and seasonal dynamics to address public health risks associated with sewage microbiomes.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	Eastern Illinois University
Supervisor	Sanghoon Kang (Supervisor)