New physical tests on empty coronavirus cells will tell us how temperature and weather conditions will affect the development of the pandemic
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is spreading all over the world reaching alarming numbers. One of the most common questions is whether the arrival of summer will help slow down the spread of the virus. To date, there is no reliable data and experts are divided on the subject. A research group at the University of Utah has started a search to finally get an answer.
But how is this possible? The scientists were able to reproduce the protein envelope of the new coronavirus, obtaining spheres of the same type but without the filament of viral RNA. These spheres will be sprayed into the air in a controlled environment at a certain temperature and humidity to see if they lose structural integrity.
The change in the protein structure of the sphere would result in loss of virus activity and subsequent death. The study has already been funded for $200,000 by the National Science Foundation. The researchers hope to definitively understand how the virus is transmitted under different conditions. The results could influence the policies of isolation and social restrictions of all countries in the world.