Transkingdom Interactions Between Viruses and Bacteria: Implications for Wastewater Treatment Efficiency

Human enteric viruses frequently encounter diverse microbial communities in wastewater, where interactions with bacteria and other microorganisms can profoundly influence their environmental persistence and transmission. Increasing evidence demonstrates that bacteria can bind and stabilize enteric viruses, thereby enhancing thermal inactivation and prolonging infectivity. These interactions not only shape viral fate during wastewater treatment but also may affect the sensitivity and interpretation of wastewater-based epidemiology, an essential tool for public health surveillance. Yet significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the molecular mechanisms that govern bacterial-viral interactions and their roles in broader wastewater microbiomes. Together, advancing our understanding of transkingdom interactions in wastewater is essential for improving treatment processes, strengthening environmental surveillance, and reducing the risk of virus transmission through contaminated water systems.