Micro-biophysical characterization of respiration aerosols (µResp) and their role in airborne transmission of infectious diseases

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A detailed understanding of the physico-biochemical properties of exhaled aerosol particles is a necessary prerequisite for effective preventive measures against the airborne transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, and tuberculosis. The µRESP proposal will fill urgent knowledge gaps related to aerosol formation, composition, and transmission, based on the unique research specialization of the partners. The goals and derived tasks have united 3 leading institutes (MPIDS, MPIC, IKTS). These institutes have come together to unleash their complementary and transdisciplinary expertise in this very important research program. They jointly use their dedicated and highly specialized tools and research infrastructures with much ambition and drive. The proposed research involves (i) obtaining reproducible human aerosol samples for different breathing maneuvers such as singing, coughing, talking, breathing, etc., (ii) comprehensive and correlated aerosol characterization using a wealth of state-of-the-art microscopy and spectroscopy techniques in terms of size, number, and composition as a function of breathing maneuver, and (iii) collection of unique data and samples from subjects of different age, gender, and health status in combination with statistical and quantitative analysis of these data including their free availability worldwide in the HEADS app.