Updated: 5:06 PM CST Feb 26, 2021 KOCO Staff Researchers from the University of Oklahoma, OU Health and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation have detected mutations in the genes of SARS-CoV-2 samples taken from sewage collected across Oklahoma last month.SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19.The mutations that were detected, according to a news release, indicate three areas of concern: The “Pelican” variant, which was recently identified and is largely found in the United States, as well as mutations that are common to the U.K. and South African variants. None of the genetic markers for the Brazilian variant were found. “Mutations indicated that potentially more infectious variants were present at different levels in the wastewater for the different monitored sites,” according to the release.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that many people infected with COVID-19 shed the virus in their waste before they develop symptoms. Because of this, cities and universities have begun monitoring sewage for SARS-CoV-2 as an early indicator for potential outbreaks. Over the last several months, the OU team has worked with cities across the state to collect and analyze wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2. The sampling began with wastewater on OU’s Norman campus but has since broadened to Oklahoma City, Midwest City, Norman, Anadarko and Tulsa. “By analyzing wastewater collected from geographically distinct areas that represent a specific population, locales experiencing higher levels of the virus can be identified, and additional mitigation efforts for targeted populations may be implemented,” said Jason Vogel, director of the Oklahoma Water Survey and professor in the OU School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. “Understanding the progression of the pandemic in our communities over time can inform actions, such as strategic use of limited resources, outreach efforts, and targeted testing and vaccinations, allowing Oklahoma leaders to more effectively and equitably mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,” said Halley Reeves, vice president of community health impact for OU Health. “Analyzing wastewater samples is presently the best and fastest way of obtaining population-level knowledge about the genetic variants being transmitted in Oklahoma,” said Katrin Kuhn, infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor at the OU Hudson College of Public Health. “Knowledge of how many of these variants are circulating in the population, and where they are transmitted, helps us prepare better for the impact of a potential outbreak of a genetic variant.”The sequencing for this research was completed by OMRF in Oklahoma City. “OMRF’s technology allows us to analyze samples for this research at a level and speed not available anywhere else in the state,” said OMRF scientist Graham Wiley, who oversees the sample sequencing in the foundation’s Clinical Genomics Center. “This is science done by Oklahomans for the benefit of Oklahomans. Identifying what variants of the virus are present and where they are located within the metro area and surrounding cities is critical for public health.”“We are coordinating with other groups across the U.S. and worldwide to monitor the evolution and spread of variants,” said Bradley Stevenson, associate professor of microbiology at OU. “Sequencing the representative mixture of viral genomes in sewage samples allows us to detect the mutations that are becoming more prevalent within the population. We can then use this data to direct sequencing of positive patient samples from that sewershed to confirm their presence.”The combination of these molecular, civil engineering, city planning, public health and epidemiological tools utilized for this study is among the first of its kind globally. The Oklahoma City-County Health Department will use the data collected by this research team to help with his vaccination effort.“This will be another tool that we use to help fight the ongoing pandemic,” Phil Maytubby, OCCHD chief operating officer said. “Data makes a difference and this predictive methodology will enhance OCCHD planning. As the research continues and specific mutations are found, OCCHD will use this data to better assess the current operational picture. This project also lays the groundwork for research in other health crises”