(Huntsville, Ala | April 2, 2020) – CFD Research’s Computational Medicine and Biology team is working on various aspects of COVID-19 respiratory viral infection, transmission, protection and treatment. In particular we are exploring a “missing link” in the virion’s hands-to-lung transmission path. Our hypothesis is that the 2019-CoV-2 virions are re-suspend from the contaminated face and inhaled via the nostrils into the lungs. We suggest that periodic facial hygiene may be as important as hand washing in protection against the coronavirus infection.
See a one-page infection hypothesis note. We would appreciate your comments.
The CoV-2 IR&D related projects at CFD Research currently include:
- 3D CFD flow + bioaerosol dynamics exhaled by a cough, deposition on surfaces and inactivation kinetics
- Inhalation of resuspended virions (see the note)
- 1D and Quasi-3D airway barrier viral infection dynamics involving: target, eclipse, infected and virus cells + shedding during periodic cough at different phases of infection
- PBPK/PD of orally administered antivirals (currently being investigated for COVID-19), distribution into target sites in the lungs
a) Anatomical distribution of number face touches and duration time range observed in a one-hour period, and b) Predicted contours of nondimensional wall shear stress, τ, on a human face during physiological air inhalation
About CFD Research: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has worked with government agencies, businesses and academia to provide innovative solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and Energy & Materials industries. Over the years CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative component/system technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. CFD Research is an ISO9001 and AS9100 registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.
