PERSISTENCE AND INACTIVATION OF VESICLE-CLOAKED ENTERIC VIRUS CLUSTERS IN AGRICULTURAL REUSE WATER

The major goals of this project areto evaluate the removal and inactivation of vesicle-cloaked rotavirus and norovirus clusters (here referred to as rotavirus and norovirus vesicles)in agricultural reuse water,and investigateviral vesiclepersistence in soil and on crop surfaces after irrigation. The project has three objectives, including (i)determiningthe removal efficiency and inactivation kinetics of rotavirus and norovirus vesicles in wastewater treatment for reuse; (ii)elucidatingthe persistence and inactivation kinetics of rotavirus and norovirus vesicles in soil after irrigating reused water; and (iii)understanding the persistence and inactivation kinetics of rotavirus and norovirus vesicles on crop surfaces after irrigating reused water.