Department Environmental Microbiology

The WISE research project is a collaborative effort between researchers at Eawag, ETH Zürich, and EPFL aimed at enhancing wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) to track and predict infectious disease dynamics beyond traditional clinical surveillance. By analyzing molecular data from viruses in wastewater, we can track outbreaks, identify viral variants, and understand transmission dynamics. Current data is accessible and visualized on our WISE dashboard.

At Eawag, activity is focused on two work packages (WPs). In WP1, we are investigating how in-sewer transport could influence viral RNA loads by conducting experiments in a real-world sewer setting. In WP2, efforts are centered on refining virus detection, quantification, and sequencing methods. We have developed assays for improved viral detection and have successfully worked on sequencing the respiratory syncytial virus and influenza from wastewater.