The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the current pandemic, consist of a nanoscale spherical capsid decorated with protruding functional proteins. The alignment of the such proteins with specific receptors of the human cells determines the linkage and further insertion of the viral genetic material into the cells. At the nanoscale, the rotational diffusion of such decorated objects may exhibit characteristic deviations compared to a simple nanosphere. Moreover, the type and distribution of the surrounding proteins can provide rotational signatures that differentiate various types of virus, thus providing relevant biomarkers.

The goal of this project is to explore the potential of microrheological characterization of viral solutions as a tool for virus-identification and characterization. The effect of the decorating-proteins morphology and distribution over the dynamic of virus will be investigated using the smoothed dissipative particle dynamics method. The results of this project will provide relevant mesoscopic information to construct a multiscale framework to investigated COVID19-related pathologies.

The postdoctoral candidate will work under the supervision of Ikerbasque Prof. Marco Ellero (CFD group, BCAM) on the developments and use of mesoscopic particle-simulation methods to better understand changes in the translational and rotational diffusivity of viruses.