RAPID: Environmental Surveillance to Assess Aerosol Transmission Pathways of COVID-19 Enabled by On-The-Spot Sampling and Detection

新冠肺炎大流行的进展速度表明，可能存在比目前所知的更多的感染途径。通过吸入携带病毒的气雾剂感染是一种可能的途径。然而，仍缺乏充分了解吸入气雾剂带来的感染风险的证据。收集空气样本用于分析SARS-CoV2(导致新冠肺炎疾病的病毒)将有助于确定气溶胶是否以及如何在新冠肺炎的传播中发挥作用。这些知识将使卫生保健专业人员和其他政策制定者能够实施保护公众健康的做法。对这一信息的需求非常迫切，因为第二波新冠肺炎预计将于2020年秋季爆发，由于与季节性流感重叠，可能会产生更严重的影响。该项目的目标是开发特定和快速的现场空气采样和检测技术，以满足对气溶胶监测的需求。该项目团队包括在空气采样、设备设计和病毒学方面拥有免费专业知识的学者。这项研究的成功完成将提供关键的知识，可以作为SARS-CoV2存在的早期预警系统，并有助于过渡到常规的经济和社会活动。迫切需要关于SARS-CoV2(导致新冠肺炎疾病的病毒)传播方式的信息，以保护公众并防止疾病进一步传播。该项目的目标是确定气溶胶在SARS-CoV2传播中的作用，并在为寨卡病毒成功开发的现有模块的基础上开发快速气溶胶监测仪。研究小组由一名气溶胶科学家、一名机械工程师和一名病毒学家组成，他们拥有迅速实现这一目标所需的专业知识和所需设施。项目研究人员将(1)在照顾新冠肺炎患者的医疗机构进行空气采样，以评估SARS-CoV2病毒是否可通过气雾剂传播；(2)开发用于分析SARS-CoV2病毒的现场病毒核酸检测模块。该模块将通过与疾控中心批准的测试的分析结果进行比较来验证；以及(3)在公共场所部署空气采样器检测模块，以及早检测到可能出现的第二波新冠肺炎。这项及时的研究将提供有关SARS-CoV2病毒气溶胶传播作用的重要信息，并提供一个强大的工具来快速检测空气中的病毒。如果气溶胶传播被证明是医疗机构的一个重要暴露途径，可能会迅速修改操作，以更好地保护抗击大流行的医护人员。及早发现疫情和潜在的新冠肺炎第二波疫情将使采取主动措施保护公众健康成为可能。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并已通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The speed at which the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed suggests that there may be more infection pathways than presently understood. Infection through the inhalation of virus carrying aerosols is one possible path. However, evidence is still lacking to fully understand the infection risks posed by aerosol inhalation. Collecting air samples for the analysis of SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 disease) will help determine whether and how aerosols play a role in the spread of COVID-19. Such knowledge will allow health care professionals and other policy makers to implement practices to protect the public health. The need for this information is urgent, as a second wave of COVID-19 is projected for Fall 2020 with potentially more serious impacts due to overlap with seasonal flu. The goal of this project is to develop specific and rapid on-the-spot air sampling and detection technology to address a need for aerosol monitoring. The project team includes scholars with complimentary expertise in air sampling, device design, and virology. Successful completion of this research will provide critical knowledge that can serve as an early warning system of the presence of SARS-CoV2 and help the transition back to regular economic and social activities.COVID-19 has impacted human health on a global scale. Information on the transmission mode of SARS-CoV2 (the virus responsible for COVID-19 disease) is urgently needed to protect the public and prevent further spread of the disease. The goal of this project is to identify the role of aerosols in the spread of SARS-CoV2 and involves the development of a rapid aerosol monitor based on an existing module successfully developed for Zika virus. The research team is composed of an aerosol scientist, a mechanical engineer, and a virologist, who have the complimentary expertise and needed facilities to rapidly achieve the goal. Project researchers will (1) conduct air sampling at healthcare facilities that have cared for COVID-19 patients to assess if SARS-CoV2 virus is transmissible via aerosols; (2) develop an on-the-spot virus nucleic acid detection module for analysis of SARS-CoV2 virus. The module will be validated by comparison with analytical results from CDC-approved tests; and (3) deploy the air sampler detection module in public venues for early detection of a possible second wave of COVID-19. This timely study will provide significant information about the role of aerosol transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus and offer a powerful tool to rapidly detect the virus in air. If aerosol transmission is proven to be a significant exposure pathway in healthcare facilities, operations may be swiftly revised to better protect healthcare workers fighting the pandemic. Early detection of outbreaks and a potential secondary wave of COVID-19 will enable proactive measures to protect public health.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.