SALT LAKE CITY Researchers from the University of Utah found that temperature has a big effect on the structure of particles like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a new study.
Working with researchers from the University of California, Davis, the U. scientists tested how temperature and humidity affect the structure of such particles on surfaces and found even moderate temperature increases broke down the structure of the virus.
The findings were published in a Nov. 28 paper in the journal Biochemical Biophysical Research Communications.
Michael Vershinin, assistant professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Utah, co-authored the paper along with U. colleagues Abhianyu Sharma, Benjamin Preece, Heather Swann, and Saveez Saffarian. Vershinin told KSL.com the study has earned national and international attention since it was published.
COVID-19 particles will remain infectious as temperature begins to drop
Winter is coming in the northern hemisphere and public health officials are asking how the seasonal shift will impact the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19?
A new study tested how temperatures and humidity affect the structure of individual SARS-Cov-2 virus-like particles on surfaces. They found that just moderate temperature increases broke down the virus structure, while humidity had very little impact. In order to remain infectious, the SARS-Cov-2 membrane needs a specific web of proteins arranged in a particular order. When that structure falls apart, it becomes less infectious. The findings suggest that as temperatures begin to drop, particles on surfaces will remain infectious longer.
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IMAGE: A group of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles are shown in panel (A) on a glass surface in room temparture. The color scale describes the height of each particle red is the tallest. view more
Credit: Sharma et. al. (2020) Biochem Biophys Res Comms
Winter is coming in the northern hemisphere and public health officials are asking how the seasonal shift will impact the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19?
A new study tested how temperatures and humidity affect the structure of individual SARS-Cov-2 virus-like particles on surfaces. They found that just moderate temperature increases broke down the virus structure, while humidity had very little impact. In order to remain infectious, the SARS-Cov-2 membrane needs a specific web of proteins arranged in a particular order. When that structure falls apart, it becomes less infectious. The findings suggest that as temperatures begin to drop, particles on surfaces will remain infectious longer.