Quantum tunnelling in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has added new urgency to the study of viral mechanisms of infection. But while vaccines offer a measure of protection against this specific outbreak, a new era of pandemics has been predicted. In addition to this, COVID-19 has drawn attention to post-viral syndromes and the healthcare burden they entail. It seems integral that knowledge of viral mechanisms is increased through as wide a research field as possible. To this end we propose that quantum biology might offer essential new insights into the problem, especially with regards to the important first step of virus-host invasion. Research in quantum biology often centres around energy or charge transfer. While this is predominantly in the context of photosynthesis there has also been some suggestion that cellular receptors such as olfactory or neural receptors might employ vibration assisted electron tunnelling to augment the lock-and-key mechanism. Quantum tunnelling has also been observed in enzyme function. Enzymes are implicated in the invasion of host cells by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Receptors such as olfactory receptors also appear to be disrupted by COVID-19. Building on these observations we investigate the evidence that quantum tunnelling might be important in the context of infection with SARS-CoV-2. We illustrate this with a simple model relating the vibronic mode of, for example, a viral spike protein to the likelihood of charge transfer in an idealised receptor. Our results show a distinct parameter regime in which the vibronic mode of the spike protein enhances electron transfer. With this in mind, novel therapeutics to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission could potentially be identified by their vibrational spectra.

Vibration assisted electron tunnelling in COVID-19 infection using quantum state diffusion

“…In addition, we conducted a comparative analysis between the numerical simulations of the dynamics based on the Master equation (ME), as presented in the reference, 31 and our own simulations using the non-linear stochastic Schrödinger equation (SSE). The obtained results regarding the populations and coherence of the dynamics are depicted in Fig.…”

“…Figure 5 a portrays the population and coherence profiles achieved by simulating the Master equation described in reference. 31 On the other hand, Fig. 5 b represents the corresponding outcomes obtained by numerically simulating the non-linear stochastic Schrödinger equation (Eq.…”

“…This congruence provides substantial validation for the utilization of our non-linear stochastic Schrödinger equation as a viable modeling approach for comprehending the microscopic dynamics underlying the virus infection as a whole using the Olfaction as biological process and particular in the COVID-19 infection. It is essential to note that further examination of the specific parameters, methodologies, and findings presented in the aforementioned reference 31 is necessary to fully ascertain the extent and implications of the concurrence observed between the two models.…”

“…8 ), we find a maximum probability associated with the vibronic mode in the dimer system. The difference in probabilities with and without the vibronic mode takes the following form 31 : …”

The complexities of ligand/receptor interactions: Exploring the role of molecular vibrations and quantum tunnelling

“…Beyond pharmacology, there is increasing consensus in the scientific community in favor of the idea that quantum biology is poised to contribute to the medical sciences sooner rather than later. [113][114][115] An intriguing example of a medical problem that could be directly studied using quantum mechanical principles is the proposal that quantum tunneling is part of the mechanism of infection by the SARSCoV2 (COVID-19) virus, [116] a tantalizing possibility with immediately apparent public health applications.…”