Dissecting microbial community structure in sewage treatment plant for pathogens' detection using metagenomic sequencing technology

Continuous observation of wastewater treatment plants is very crucial to keep them safe for proper use and protection from pathogenic contamination. Illumina sequencing technology was used for microbiome structuring from various samples taken from different portions of the wastewater treatment plant, including influent, activated, return sludge and effluent, where different microbial compositions were found. The effluent section was found to have pathogenic microbes such as viruses, Alpha- and deltaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, clostridia, and bacilli in various concentrations. The presence of viruses, Mycobacterium sp., Mycobacterium fortuitum, bacteroidia, and bacilli was investigated. The species Mycobacterium was found to be higher in quantity in the effluent section. Viruses, including hepatitis A and E, were detected in higher quantity in the effluent part of the sludge in comparison with the influent part of the plant. Our discovery reveals the significance and observation of wastewater treatment plants for the existence of water-borne pathogens in the effluent, principally due to the effect on humans while reusing the water.