SARS-CoV-2 surrogate (Phi6) environmental persistence within free-living amoebae.

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Virology
• Cell biology

Background:

• SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has been detected in aquatic environments, raising concerns about its environmental persistence.
• Understanding mechanisms that prolong viral dissemination in water is crucial for public health and effective disinfection strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential role of amoebae, common in aquatic systems, as transport hosts for viruses like SARS-CoV-2.
• To explore the interaction between a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate (bacteriophage Phi6) and the amoeba Vermamoeba vermiformis.

Main Methods:

• Microscopy and imaging flow cytometry were used to observe virus-amoeba interactions.
• Bacteriophage cell culture assessed viral infectivity after interaction with amoebae.
• Experiments focused on the effects of the virus surrogate on amoebic mitochondria and apoptosis.

Main Results:

• The bacteriophage Phi6 triggered amoebic mitochondria and induced apoptosis in Vermamoeba vermiformis trophozoites.
• Virus-infected amoebae remained infectious for over 2 months within cysts.
• These findings suggest amoebae can support viral persistence in aquatic environments.

Conclusions:

• Amoebae, such as Vermamoeba vermiformis, may act as environmental reservoirs for SARS-CoV-2, potentially impacting disinfection efficacy.
• The study highlights amoebae as a valuable model system for studying respiratory virus-eukaryote interactions at cellular and molecular levels.