Collaborative Research: Transport of model-virus through the lung liquid lining

Collaborative Research: Transport of model-virus through the lung liquid lining Collaborative Research: Transport of model-virus through the lung liquid lining The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is similar to other respiratory coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV (2002) and MERS-CoV (2012). All these viruses, which are about 100 nm, cause dangerous respiratory disorders with high mortality and grave impacts on society. This virus destroys the cells that produce lung surfactants which, among other things, keep the alveoli from collapsing, and eventually the lungs fill with liquid. The two primary functions of lung surfactants are regulating the interfacial tension and surface viscosities of the liquid lining of the alveoli, and providing a first line of immune defense against airborne pathogens. The fluid dynamics associated with the interactions between the liquid lining of the lung, the lung surfactants, and the respiratory virus are presently not well understood. This project aims to address this gap. We propose to conduct complementary experiments and numerical modeling to capture the essential fluid dynamics associated with a model virus interacting with the primary insoluble component of lung surfactant, DPPC. The expansion and contraction of the alveoli will be modeled using an open cavity with oscillatory sidewalls that expand and compress the liquid layer. The numerical models will then be used to simulate physiologically relevant scales, not accessible experimentally.