Dawn Gratalo
Research Subjects
Dawn Gratalo has a total of 25 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
Alexandra M. Simas
Perimeter, Boston, MA, USA
1 shared publication- Amanda Darling
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
1 shared publication Andrew Franklin
Perimeter, Boston, MA, USA
1 shared publication- Andrew P. Rothstein
Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
1 shared publication - Birgitte B. Simen
Ginkgo Biosecurity, Inc.; Boston, MA, USA
1 shared publication - Cindy R. Friedman
Division of Global Migration Health, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Biofilm Contributions of Bacterial Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes to Wastewater Surveillance Signal at the Hospital Scale
Wastewater surveillance (WS) has been widely adopted as a cost-effective and population-representative infectious disease monitoring tool and is increasingly being applied to bacterial and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) targets. However, some of these targets may persist in pipe biofilms and detach into wastewater, complicating accurate WS interpretation. To investigate biofilm contributions to wastewater pathogen and ARG signals, paired sink-drain biofilm, branch-drain-plumbing biofilm (“sewer biofilm”), and wastewater were collected from five hospital sites over a four-month period and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and probe-capture metagenomics. Overall, sewer biofilm bacterial communities were as diverse as wastewater. Across sites, a mean of 9% (0.9–23.3%) of wastewater bacterial communities could be attributed to sewer biofilm communities. Many clinically relevant pathogens were consistently detected both in sewer biofilm and wastewater, including environmentally persistent and/or biofilm-associated taxa (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) . While many ARGs overlapped between wastewater and biofilms (e.g., tetA, sul1, blaCTX-M, vanA ), others were significantly enriched in sewer biofilms (e.g., qacL, van -operon and OXA genes). Together, these findings confirm that wastewater pathogen and resistome profiles integrate inputs from both human shedding and pipe-resident communities and therefore need to be considered when selecting WS targets and interpreting signal. Synopsis: Wastewater surveillance signal reflects bacteria from both human shedding and sewer-resident microbiomes. Paired biofilm and wastewater analyses demonstrated overlapping pathogens and resistomes, indicating pipe biofilms can shape signals used for population-level surveillance. TOC
Open AccessBiofilm Contributions of Bacterial Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes to Wastewater Surveillance Signal at the Hospital Scale
Wastewater surveillance (WS) has been widely adopted as a cost-effective and population-representative infectious disease monitoring tool and is increasingly being applied to bacterial and antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) targets. However, some of these targets may persist in pipe biofilms and detach into wastewater, complicating accurate WS interpretation. To investigate biofilm contributions to wastewater pathogen and ARG signals, paired sink-drain biofilm, branch-drain-plumbing biofilm (“sewer biofilm”), and wastewater were collected from five hospital sites over a four-month period and analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and probe-capture metagenomics. Overall, sewer biofilm bacterial communities were as diverse as wastewater. Across sites, a mean of 9% (0.9–23.3%) of wastewater bacterial communities could be attributed to sewer biofilm communities. Many clinically relevant pathogens were consistently detected both in sewer biofilm and wastewater, including environmentally persistent and/or biofilm-associated taxa (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) . While many ARGs overlapped between wastewater and biofilms (e.g., tetA, sul1, blaCTX-M, vanA ), others were significantly enriched in sewer biofilms (e.g., qacL, van -operon and OXA genes). Together, these findings confirm that wastewater pathogen and resistome profiles integrate inputs from both human shedding and pipe-resident communities and therefore need to be considered when selecting WS targets and interpreting signal. Synopsis: Wastewater surveillance signal reflects bacteria from both human shedding and sewer-resident microbiomes. Paired biofilm and wastewater analyses demonstrated overlapping pathogens and resistomes, indicating pipe biofilms can shape signals used for population-level surveillance. TOC
- Open Access
Signals across the pond: Bilateral airplane wastewater monitoring paves the way for international cooperation on pathogen surveillance for public health
We present findings from the first known pilot study of transatlantic airplane wastewater monitoring, conducted over six months at two connected international airports in the United States and the United Kingdom. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing bilateral wastewater-based pathogen surveillance at international travel hubs. We outline the operational and analytical methodologies employed, highlight key challenges encountered in transnational coordination, and provide recommendations for the design and implementation of future surveillance programs at points of entry.
Open AccessSignals across the pond: Bilateral airplane wastewater monitoring paves the way for international cooperation on pathogen surveillance for public health
We present findings from the first known pilot study of transatlantic airplane wastewater monitoring, conducted over six months at two connected international airports in the United States and the United Kingdom. This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing bilateral wastewater-based pathogen surveillance at international travel hubs. We outline the operational and analytical methodologies employed, highlight key challenges encountered in transnational coordination, and provide recommendations for the design and implementation of future surveillance programs at points of entry.