Electric field of moderate strength inactivates Covid-19 virus

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the claim that moderate electric fields can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as suggested by a study from the University of Kassel. Participants explore the implications of using electric fields in air filtration systems and compare this approach to existing methods like UV light for virus inactivation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight that the study claims external electric fields can destabilize the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, potentially reducing its infectivity.
  • Others express skepticism about the practicality of using electric fields of 10 MV/m, questioning whether this level can be considered "moderate."
  • A few participants suggest alternative methods for virus inactivation, such as UV light, and reference existing studies on its effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2.
  • Concerns are raised about the safety of applying high electric fields for internal use, with analogies made to bug zappers.
  • Some participants propose integrating UV light into air filtration systems as a safer alternative to high electric fields.
  • One participant critiques the relevance of applying high electric fields to protein docking, comparing it to less scientifically grounded suggestions.
  • Technical details regarding the dielectric strength of air and the effectiveness of lower electric field strengths are discussed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of agreement and disagreement, particularly regarding the definition of "moderate" electric fields and the feasibility of their application. There is no consensus on the practicality or safety of using high electric fields for virus inactivation compared to other methods like UV light.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations regarding the assumptions made in the study, particularly about the safety and applicability of high electric fields in real-world settings. The discussion also highlights the need for further clarification on the effectiveness of lower electric field strengths.

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TL;DR
Electric field of moderate strength inactivates Convid-19 virus
A science team from the university of Kassel (Germany) proved with a physical model, that a moderate electric field inactivates the Convid-19 virus.

paper said:
The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is vulnerable to moderate electric fields
...
Here we show, with the help of atomistic simulations, that external electric fields of easily achievable and moderate strengths can dramatically destabilise the S protein, inducing long-lasting structural damage.
...
Last but not least, and on the same line, the application of EFs to SARS-CoV-2, which strongly reduces its infectivity through modification of S, might also offer the possibility to generate, though applications in air filters or masks, partial immunity or cross reactivity against wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and its different mutations.
Source:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25478-7

via:
https://www.uni-kassel.de/uni/aktue...iger-elektrischer-spannung-gegen-corona-viren
 
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Biology news on Phys.org
Love it. Bug Zappers for the virus!

Sounds like a good reason to install electrostatic air cleaners in public buildings.
 
Or I could just walk around with a parallel plate capacitor attached to my mouth.
I would just need to be careful not to spit through it while it's charged...Someone should really introduce this research to the conspiracy theorists, They already have tinfoil hats just need to attach a wire and charge it up.
 
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I would not call 10 MV/m "moderate".
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
I would not call 10 MV/m "moderate".
Not for internal use, I take it.

I'm aware of UV studies on SARS-Cov-2 looking at UVA, B, C or sunlight.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080121003691
human CoVs including the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 are inherently sensitive to UVC. However, the successful decontamination using other wavebands requires higher dosages and longer administration times.

https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/222/4/564/5856149
https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/222/2/214/5841129

UV is used in infectious diseases wards, and has been effective against tuberculosis.
 
@Vanadium yes I opened the research paper and also saw the the E field numbers and my God that is high voltage.
@Astronuc as for UV light I think they already make air filters with UV lamps inside them. I think one could simply make a high throughput ventilation system with strong UV inside and then change the air rapidly in rooms with UV cleaned one.

I would tend to think that the best way to do this would be to pull the "dirty" air upwards and introduce the fresh one from below to create something of a "Marylin Monroe" dress effect flying upwards from the breeze.
One could also heat the indoors by simply heating the fresh air introduced.
 
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Astronuc said:
Not for internal use, I take it.
If you tried that for internal use, pretty soon it would be external use. Think "bug zapper", but for people.
 
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I try really hard not to crap on other people’s work, but come on. In what world is application of these huge electric fields relevant to protein docking? I could understand trying to claim a mechanism of effectiveness of ionic air filters for decontamination, but this paper borders on Trump’s suggestion to inject bleach.

Or maybe I’m just bitter that the only Nature Comms paper I ever published took hundreds of hours and tons of work o0)
 
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  • #10
The dielectric strength of very dry STP air is at most 3MV/m, so there's that.
 
  • #11
Vanadium 50 said:
I would not call 10 MV/m "moderate".

According to the peer-review discussion, that would even work with only 0.1 MV/m = 100 V/mm:
Reply to REVIEWER 2
...
These additional calculations clearly show that external electric fields of strengths as low as ##10^5 V/m## produce severe damage in the RBD of the three variants. We have added a new section containing a new figure (Fig. 4) to the manuscript addressing these calculations.
Source:
https://static-content.springer.com.../MediaObjects/41467_2021_25478_MOESM2_ESM.pdf

via:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-25478-7