Bioinformatics study of enteroviruses which cause waterborne diseases

There are many different types of viruses in the environment. Although microscopic in size, they play a critical role in maintaining the balance of life in the ecosystem. One particular group of viruses are of utmost importance to human: Enterovirus. Enteroviruses are destructive to human health, posing many threats, both known and unknown ones which can bring pain and illnesses, and in severe cases, even death. Viruses belonging to this group spread via different pathways. In this study, focus will be placed on the group which are waterborne, and spread waterborne diseases. Utilising the differences in triplets ratios generated from the taxon-specific short nucleotide sequences, studies can be made on a new method of grouping and classifying the waterborne enteroviruses. By using the tribucleotides ratio method to analyse the virus, we are able to examine and compare the correlationships between trinucleotide ratio and the classification of genus with result from other conventional phylogenetic methods. It therefore provides a faster and more efficient way to distinguish between the different waterborne viruses at genus level. Time and effort will be saved in the process.Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering