Aerosol Particles and their Dispersion - Scientific Network to Support Interdisciplinary Exchange in the DFG Focus Funding COVID-19

在冠状病毒大流行期间，很明显，气溶胶对感染过程有很大贡献，但它们的传播动力学和与病毒传染性有关的老化在科学上仍然很大程度上是未知的。特别是，关于呼吸、说话、咳嗽和打喷嚏时气溶胶颗粒的形成，以及它们在房间内的动力学和扩散动力学(湍流混合)的问题，迄今在很大程度上尚未得到解答。此外，关于从室内空气中去除气溶胶颗粒的效率、气溶胶传播病毒的传染性以及通过多种物理方法(辐射、电荷、温度等)可能使其失活的问题，仍存在许多不确定性。气溶胶粒子在呼吸道中的沉积和传输在很大程度上也是未知的。为支持抗击新冠肺炎大流行，英国食品药品监督管理局发起了资助新冠肺炎“气溶胶粒子及其扩散”的重点项目，在该框架内将资助15个项目。在重点资助的范围内，预计这些项目将使用可转移到SARS-CoV-2的模型系统(例如，病毒样颗粒)，以及工程学和/或生命科学之间的跨学科合作。该科学网络旨在支持“DFG-Fokusförderung”计划中的跨学科交流。此外，联网应能够启动DFG优先方案，对携带病毒的气雾剂进行跨学科调查。

During the Corona pandemic, it became clear that aerosols contribute significantly to the infection process, but their propagation kinetics and ageing in connection with the infectivity of the virus are still largely unknown scientifically. In particular questions on the formation of aerosol particles during breathing, speaking, coughing and sneezing, as well as theirkinetics and dispersal dynamics (turbulent mixing) in rooms have so far remained largely unanswered. In addition, there are still many uncertainties regarding the efficientremoval of aerosol particles from indoor air and the infectivity of aerosol-borne viruses as well as their possible inactivation by means of multiphysical approaches (radiation, charge, temperature, etc.). The deposition and transport of aerosol particles in the respiratory tract is also largely unexplored. To support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the DFG initiated a focus funding COVID-19 "Aerosol particles and their dispersion", in the framework of which 15 projects will be funded. Within the scope of the focus funding, the projects are expected to use model systems (e.g. virus-like particles) that can be transferred to SARS-CoV-2, and an interdisciplinary cooperation between engineering and/or life sciences. This scientific network is intended to support interdisciplinary exchange in the "DFG-Fokusförderung" program. Furthermore, the networking should enable the initiation of a DFG priority program for the interdisciplinary investigation of virus-carrying aerosols.