Mathematical Physics and Harmonic Analysis Seminar

Date: September 2, 2022

Time: 1:50PM - 2:50PM

Location: BLOC 306

Speaker: Goong Chen, Texas A&M University

Title: Modes of Motion of a Coronavirus and Their Interpretations in the Invasion Process into a Healthy Cell

Abstract: The motion of a coronavirus is highly dependent on its modes of vibration. If we model a coronavirus based on a elastodynamic PDEs, then the wiggling motion of the spikes and breathing motion of the capsid can be captured, for example. Here, we give a quick review of this model and the associated modal analysis through finite element computations. We then begin to study the invasion process by a coronavirus into a healthy cell, which takes place after the virus attacked the cell and its membrane began to fuse with the membrane of the cell. The fusion causes an initial opening with diameter of about 1 nm on the cell's membrane. For the invasion process to be successful, the virus must further widen the diameter to about 100nm in order for the viral genome material to enter the healthy cell to replicate. Can we model and simulate such a process by using a coupled virus-cell elastodynamic system? We will present our most recent partial findings for this question through the showing of supercomputer simulation animations.