SARS-CoV-2 in Soil: A Microbial Perspective

SARS-CoV-2 has been found in soil and aquatic environments in addition to aerosols. SARS-CoV-2 enters the soil from various sources, including organic amendments and waste irrigation water. The virus counts and virulence in soil depend on spillover routes and soil properties. Organic matter (OM) and clay minerals protect and enable SARS-CoV-2 to survive for longer periods in soil. Therefore, life forms residing in soil may be at risk, but there is a paucity of scientific interest in such interactions. With this perspective, we aim to provide a new viewpoint on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on soil microbes. In particular, we present a conceptual model showing how successive mutations within soil animals having the SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) may change its characteristics and, thus, enable it to infect micro- and macroorganisms and be transferred by them. SARS-CoV-2 particles could be adsorbed on mineral or OM surfaces, and these surfaces could serve as encounter sites for infectious attacks. SARS-CoV-2 accumulation in soil over time can perturb bacteria and other microbes, leading to imbalances in microbial diversity and activities. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 and its interactions with biotic and abiotic soil components should be a future research priority.