RAPID: Airborne CoV-2 Viability and Oxidation

这个快速项目旨在提高对（SARS）CoV-2的空气传播的理解，CoV-2是COVID-19大流行背后的病毒，通过亚微米空气颗粒。将进行室内实验，以帮助确定（SARS）CoV-2在亚微米气溶胶中保持活力的时间以及大气氧化，颗粒大小和其他环境条件如何影响活力。该团队包括知名的传染病科学家、冠状病毒微生物学家和气溶胶科学家，他们拥有独特的技术和仪器组合。这项研究的两个目标是：（1）在存在/不存在臭氧（O3）和羟基（OH）自由基的情况下，使用包埋在亚微米气溶胶中的非致病性模型冠状病毒进行受控室实验（分别）检查生存力如何受到大气氧化的影响;和（2）用新型BioSpot采样器和明胶过滤采样器在至少2个位置（例如，废水处理厂、医院、日托所、疗养院、杂货店、教室），以及如果检测到活病毒，则检查空气中的O3或OH自由基处理对空气中的（SARS）CoV-2病毒的抑制能力。这项研究有望更好地了解冠状病毒在亚微米气溶胶中的生存能力。预计这一努力将提供与缓解措施和共享室内外空间的改进设计相关的信息，这些措施和空间更能抵御呼吸道病毒的传播，更有利于保护公众健康。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This RAPID project seeks to improve the understanding of the airborne transmission of (SARS) CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, via sub-micron airborne particles. Chamber experiments will be conducted to help determine how long (SARS) CoV-2 remains viable in sub-micron aerosol and how atmospheric oxidation, particle size, and other environmental conditions affect viability. The team includes well-established infectious-disease scientists, coronavirus microbiologists and aerosol scientists with a unique combination of techniques and instruments.The two objectives of this research are to: (1) Conduct controlled chamber experiments using a non-pathogenic model coronavirus embedded in submicron aerosol in the presence/absence of ozone (O3) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals (separately) to examine how viability is influenced by atmospheric oxidation; and (2) Measure the concentrations of (SARS) CoV-2 and non-pathogenic T3 bacteriophage in aerosol with a novel BioSpot sampler and a gelatin filter sampler in at least 2 locations (e.g., wastewater treatment plant, hospital, daycare, nursing home, grocery store, classroom), and if viable viruses are detected to examine the ability of airborne O3 or OH radical treatment to inactivate the airborne (SARS) CoV-2 virus. This research is expected to lead to a better understanding of the viability of coronaviruses in sub-micron aerosol. It is anticipated that this effort will provide information relevant to the improved design of mitigation measures and shared indoor/outdoor spaces that are more resilient to respiratory virus transmission and more conducive to protecting 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.