Solid Evidence
@solidevidence.bsky.social
Molecular virologist, sewage sage and wastewater wizard.
Professor at University of Missouri, School of Medicine
Professor at University of Missouri, School of Medicine
Guess what we're hunting for.
November 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Guess what we're hunting for.
Are prickly pears or their fruit seasonal?
There are several cactus viruses that appear seasonally (Aug-Oct) just about everywhere. I can't think of any other cacti that are commonly eaten.
Or maybe it's infecting something else?
There are several cactus viruses that appear seasonally (Aug-Oct) just about everywhere. I can't think of any other cacti that are commonly eaten.
Or maybe it's infecting something else?
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Are prickly pears or their fruit seasonal?
There are several cactus viruses that appear seasonally (Aug-Oct) just about everywhere. I can't think of any other cacti that are commonly eaten.
Or maybe it's infecting something else?
There are several cactus viruses that appear seasonally (Aug-Oct) just about everywhere. I can't think of any other cacti that are commonly eaten.
Or maybe it's infecting something else?
Can you take a quarter cup of composite sewage, simply ask ‘what’s in there?’, and find out all of the pathogens circulating in that community?
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Untargeted longitudinal ultra deep metagenomic sequencing of wastewater provides a comprehensive readout of expected and unexpected viral pathogens
Wastewater surveillance has become a powerful tool to monitor circulating viruses at a community level. Currently, most wastewater surveillance efforts use target-based approaches such as quantitative...
www.medrxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Can you take a quarter cup of composite sewage, simply ask ‘what’s in there?’, and find out all of the pathogens circulating in that community?
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
That is the question we asked in our latest pre-print.
Turns out you can.
1/
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Help me out, I’ve got another wastewater virus mystery.
This one really blows my mind.
1/
This one really blows my mind.
1/
October 24, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Help me out, I’ve got another wastewater virus mystery.
This one really blows my mind.
1/
This one really blows my mind.
1/
Warning, we've had more measles detections from wastewater in the last month than in the last 2 years combined.
We don't have every site on our dashboard yet, and we don't have Measles on the dashboard because we hadn't been seeing it. Things change.
health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroo...
We don't have every site on our dashboard yet, and we don't have Measles on the dashboard because we hadn't been seeing it. Things change.
health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroo...
DOH MONITORING FIRST WASTEWATER DETECTION OF MEASLES IN KAUAʻI COUNTY
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) is monitoring a positive wastewater sample for measles virus, the first wastewater detection of the virus for Kauaʻi County. The sample was collected ...
https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-monitoring-first-wastewater-detection-of-measles-in-kauaʻi-county/
October 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Warning, we've had more measles detections from wastewater in the last month than in the last 2 years combined.
We don't have every site on our dashboard yet, and we don't have Measles on the dashboard because we hadn't been seeing it. Things change.
health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroo...
We don't have every site on our dashboard yet, and we don't have Measles on the dashboard because we hadn't been seeing it. Things change.
health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroo...
It looks like Coeur d’Alene, ID cryptic is gone for now, but it has still managed to answer a lot of lingering questions for me about SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and what to expect next.
Here's a whole genome summary and interpretation.
1/
Here's a whole genome summary and interpretation.
1/
October 17, 2025 at 9:21 PM
It looks like Coeur d’Alene, ID cryptic is gone for now, but it has still managed to answer a lot of lingering questions for me about SARS-CoV-2 evolution, and what to expect next.
Here's a whole genome summary and interpretation.
1/
Here's a whole genome summary and interpretation.
1/
Cryptic update.
GPHL just updated their July sequencing and the Georgia variant is playing peek-a-boo with me.
It was only present in one of the July samples, and it was a tiny fraction of the total sequence, it but it was clearly present on July 22.
1/
GPHL just updated their July sequencing and the Georgia variant is playing peek-a-boo with me.
It was only present in one of the July samples, and it was a tiny fraction of the total sequence, it but it was clearly present on July 22.
1/
October 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Cryptic update.
GPHL just updated their July sequencing and the Georgia variant is playing peek-a-boo with me.
It was only present in one of the July samples, and it was a tiny fraction of the total sequence, it but it was clearly present on July 22.
1/
GPHL just updated their July sequencing and the Georgia variant is playing peek-a-boo with me.
It was only present in one of the July samples, and it was a tiny fraction of the total sequence, it but it was clearly present on July 22.
1/
If XFG drives the extinction of JN.1* we will have our first reset in 2 years. While XFG isn't that different than JN.1*, the reset provides a useful tool.
1/
1/
October 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
If XFG drives the extinction of JN.1* we will have our first reset in 2 years. While XFG isn't that different than JN.1*, the reset provides a useful tool.
1/
1/
We added a couple more sites to our dashboard this week.
We now have a weekly readout on the viruses being shed by domestic cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and about 10 million people.
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
We now have a weekly readout on the viruses being shed by domestic cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and about 10 million people.
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
October 12, 2025 at 9:22 PM
We added a couple more sites to our dashboard this week.
We now have a weekly readout on the viruses being shed by domestic cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and about 10 million people.
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
We now have a weekly readout on the viruses being shed by domestic cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and about 10 million people.
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
Cryptic lineage update. It looks like the Coeur d’Alene cryptic is gone for now. It was a BQ.1.1, so at least a 2.5 year infection.
Did the person move away? Get better? Something worse? We’ll probably never know.
1/
Did the person move away? Get better? Something worse? We’ll probably never know.
1/
October 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Cryptic lineage update. It looks like the Coeur d’Alene cryptic is gone for now. It was a BQ.1.1, so at least a 2.5 year infection.
Did the person move away? Get better? Something worse? We’ll probably never know.
1/
Did the person move away? Get better? Something worse? We’ll probably never know.
1/
I just updated our cryptic lineage dashboard if anyone is interested.
Viewer warning: this site contains a ton of actual data that really long persistent COVID infections are still occurring.
1/
dholab.github.io/public_viz/0...
Viewer warning: this site contains a ton of actual data that really long persistent COVID infections are still occurring.
1/
dholab.github.io/public_viz/0...
SARS-CoV-2 Cryptic Lineage Visualizations
dholab.github.io
October 3, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I just updated our cryptic lineage dashboard if anyone is interested.
Viewer warning: this site contains a ton of actual data that really long persistent COVID infections are still occurring.
1/
dholab.github.io/public_viz/0...
Viewer warning: this site contains a ton of actual data that really long persistent COVID infections are still occurring.
1/
dholab.github.io/public_viz/0...
Had a nice visit to San Francisco this week, and I actually got to meet @jbloomlab.bsky.social in person.
Nothing happened while I was gone did it?
gladstone.org/events/viral...
Nothing happened while I was gone did it?
gladstone.org/events/viral...
Viral Landscapes: How to Comprehensively Monitor Evolutionary Trajectories
Virus-host interactions shape the evolutionary landscape of viruses and lead to the emergence of...
gladstone.org
September 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Had a nice visit to San Francisco this week, and I actually got to meet @jbloomlab.bsky.social in person.
Nothing happened while I was gone did it?
gladstone.org/events/viral...
Nothing happened while I was gone did it?
gladstone.org/events/viral...
We finally launched our cryptic lineage dashboard.
It isn’t perfect, but ya gotta start somewhere.
Here’s a brief tutorial.
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
It isn’t perfect, but ya gotta start somewhere.
Here’s a brief tutorial.
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
September 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
We finally launched our cryptic lineage dashboard.
It isn’t perfect, but ya gotta start somewhere.
Here’s a brief tutorial.
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
It isn’t perfect, but ya gotta start somewhere.
Here’s a brief tutorial.
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
Coeur d'Alene, ID continues to have by far the highest SC2 levels among the 192 wastewater SCAN sites.
Guess where it is coming from?
1/
Guess where it is coming from?
1/
September 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Coeur d'Alene, ID continues to have by far the highest SC2 levels among the 192 wastewater SCAN sites.
Guess where it is coming from?
1/
Guess where it is coming from?
1/
I was wondering whether D68 would surge again this year. Apparently the answer is yes.
Last year it didn't peak until Early October, so it's probably still going up.
I know there have been a lot of respiratory virus infections in Columbia, I'll bet that's what it is.
Last year it didn't peak until Early October, so it's probably still going up.
I know there have been a lot of respiratory virus infections in Columbia, I'll bet that's what it is.
September 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I was wondering whether D68 would surge again this year. Apparently the answer is yes.
Last year it didn't peak until Early October, so it's probably still going up.
I know there have been a lot of respiratory virus infections in Columbia, I'll bet that's what it is.
Last year it didn't peak until Early October, so it's probably still going up.
I know there have been a lot of respiratory virus infections in Columbia, I'll bet that's what it is.
Some cryptic lineages like to play peak-a-boo with me. Here’s one example:
One of our screens is looking for a distinct XBB signature in spike [22200A+22317T]
That signature showed up in Boone, NC in Oct of 2024, and then again last week.
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One of our screens is looking for a distinct XBB signature in spike [22200A+22317T]
That signature showed up in Boone, NC in Oct of 2024, and then again last week.
1/
September 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Some cryptic lineages like to play peak-a-boo with me. Here’s one example:
One of our screens is looking for a distinct XBB signature in spike [22200A+22317T]
That signature showed up in Boone, NC in Oct of 2024, and then again last week.
1/
One of our screens is looking for a distinct XBB signature in spike [22200A+22317T]
That signature showed up in Boone, NC in Oct of 2024, and then again last week.
1/
This is overdue. XFG* is the 11th world dominant lineage, and the first to hold the title since KP.3.1.1 a year ago.
Strangely, there are still a few corners of the world (particularly China) where it is almost completely absent.
Strangely, there are still a few corners of the world (particularly China) where it is almost completely absent.
September 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
This is overdue. XFG* is the 11th world dominant lineage, and the first to hold the title since KP.3.1.1 a year ago.
Strangely, there are still a few corners of the world (particularly China) where it is almost completely absent.
Strangely, there are still a few corners of the world (particularly China) where it is almost completely absent.
I pay attention to numbers.
Does X put the breaks on certain topics?
I posted 3 threads this weekend, each on X & bsky.
The first thread (about cryptic lineages) had 10-20 times more RTs and likes on X than here (1.1k likes total).
1/
bsky.app/profile/soli...
Does X put the breaks on certain topics?
I posted 3 threads this weekend, each on X & bsky.
The first thread (about cryptic lineages) had 10-20 times more RTs and likes on X than here (1.1k likes total).
1/
bsky.app/profile/soli...
I’ve found cryptic lineages from sequencing wastewater.
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
September 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I pay attention to numbers.
Does X put the breaks on certain topics?
I posted 3 threads this weekend, each on X & bsky.
The first thread (about cryptic lineages) had 10-20 times more RTs and likes on X than here (1.1k likes total).
1/
bsky.app/profile/soli...
Does X put the breaks on certain topics?
I posted 3 threads this weekend, each on X & bsky.
The first thread (about cryptic lineages) had 10-20 times more RTs and likes on X than here (1.1k likes total).
1/
bsky.app/profile/soli...
I was starting to believe the H5N1 outbreak from dairy cattle was winding down.
I was wrong.
I hadn’t detected H5N1 in CA wastewater in 6 months, and then 4 samples in a row came up positive. The sequences were all B3.13 (the dairy cattle lineage).
1/
I was wrong.
I hadn’t detected H5N1 in CA wastewater in 6 months, and then 4 samples in a row came up positive. The sequences were all B3.13 (the dairy cattle lineage).
1/
September 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I was starting to believe the H5N1 outbreak from dairy cattle was winding down.
I was wrong.
I hadn’t detected H5N1 in CA wastewater in 6 months, and then 4 samples in a row came up positive. The sequences were all B3.13 (the dairy cattle lineage).
1/
I was wrong.
I hadn’t detected H5N1 in CA wastewater in 6 months, and then 4 samples in a row came up positive. The sequences were all B3.13 (the dairy cattle lineage).
1/
Our wastewater dashboard was updated yesterday (we’re behind because of an equipment failure).
I’d like to point out some things you can learn from the dashboard about respiratory virus [and stupid vaccine policy].
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
I’d like to point out some things you can learn from the dashboard about respiratory virus [and stupid vaccine policy].
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
𓆞 lung.fish Data Explorer
lungfish-science.github.io
September 6, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Our wastewater dashboard was updated yesterday (we’re behind because of an equipment failure).
I’d like to point out some things you can learn from the dashboard about respiratory virus [and stupid vaccine policy].
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
I’d like to point out some things you can learn from the dashboard about respiratory virus [and stupid vaccine policy].
1/
lungfish-science.github.io/wastewater-d...
I’ve found cryptic lineages from sequencing wastewater.
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
September 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I’ve found cryptic lineages from sequencing wastewater.
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
I’ve found cryptic lineages from screening databases.
This is the first time I’ve found a cryptic lineage from social media.
This was an interesting story.
1/
Interested air sampling for pathogens?
I'm a big wastewater surveillance proponent, but it is not the answer in every situation.
Our team has a short blog about the currently available air samplers if this is something you are interested in.
lungfish-science.github.io/2025/09/04/o...
I'm a big wastewater surveillance proponent, but it is not the answer in every situation.
Our team has a short blog about the currently available air samplers if this is something you are interested in.
lungfish-science.github.io/2025/09/04/o...
Options for Bioaerosol Samplers
Do you want to detect pathogens in the air? You should know what sampling instruments are available.
lungfish-science.github.io
September 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Interested air sampling for pathogens?
I'm a big wastewater surveillance proponent, but it is not the answer in every situation.
Our team has a short blog about the currently available air samplers if this is something you are interested in.
lungfish-science.github.io/2025/09/04/o...
I'm a big wastewater surveillance proponent, but it is not the answer in every situation.
Our team has a short blog about the currently available air samplers if this is something you are interested in.
lungfish-science.github.io/2025/09/04/o...
Anyone notice a lot of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) this summer? I've heard about a lot of anecdotal cases.
Based on our wastewater surveillance, I think it's being driven by Coxsackievirus A6.
1/
Based on our wastewater surveillance, I think it's being driven by Coxsackievirus A6.
1/
August 30, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Anyone notice a lot of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) this summer? I've heard about a lot of anecdotal cases.
Based on our wastewater surveillance, I think it's being driven by Coxsackievirus A6.
1/
Based on our wastewater surveillance, I think it's being driven by Coxsackievirus A6.
1/
I wish bsky had analytics. I would have been curious to know the differences between the two platforms when discussing vaccines.
x.com/SolidEvidenc...
x.com/SolidEvidenc...
Marc Johnson on X: "Join me on analysis of the fickle nature of my corner of the twitter-verse. On Friday I pissed off a self-proclaimed vaccine effort and he called on people to unfollow me before blocking me. I was curious if people listened. 1/ https://t.co/NjmcWRxsG2" / X
Join me on analysis of the fickle nature of my corner of the twitter-verse. On Friday I pissed off a self-proclaimed vaccine effort and he called on people to unfollow me before blocking me. I was curious if people listened. 1/ https://t.co/NjmcWRxsG2
x.com
August 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I wish bsky had analytics. I would have been curious to know the differences between the two platforms when discussing vaccines.
x.com/SolidEvidenc...
x.com/SolidEvidenc...