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Haseeb MW, Toutounji M. Vibration assisted electron tunnelling in COVID-19 infection using quantum state diffusion. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12152. [PMID: 38802472 PMCID: PMC11130241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62670-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The spread of the COVID-19 virus has become a global health crisis, and finding effective treatments and preventions is a top priority. The field of quantum biology primarily focuses on energy or charge transfer, with a particular emphasis on photosynthesis. However, there is evidence to suggest that cellular receptors such as olfactory or neural receptors may also use vibration-assisted electron tunnelling to enhance their functions. Quantum tunnelling has also been observed in enzyme activity, which is relevant to the invasion of host cells by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Additionally, COVID-19 appears to disrupt receptors such as olfactory receptors. These findings suggest that quantum effects could provide new insights into the mechanisms of biological systems and disease, including potential treatments for COVID-19. We have applied the open quantum system approach using Quantum State Diffusion to solve the non-linear stochastic Schrödinger equation (SSE) for COVID-19 virus infection. Our model includes the mechanism when the spike protein of the virus binds with an ACE2 receptor is considered as dimer. These two entities form a system and then coupled with the cell membrane, which is modelled as a set of harmonic oscillators (bath). By simulating the SSE, we find that there is vibration-assisted electron tunnelling happening in certain biological parameters and coupling regimes. Furthermore, our model contributes to the ongoing research to understand the fundamental nature of virus dynamics. It proposes that vibration-assisted electron tunneling could be a molecular phenomenon that augments the lock-and-key process for olfaction. This insight may enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing virus-receptor interactions and could potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohamad Toutounji
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE.
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Guevara R, Mateos DM, Pérez Velázquez JL. Consciousness as an Emergent Phenomenon: A Tale of Different Levels of Description. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 22:E921. [PMID: 33286690 PMCID: PMC7597170 DOI: 10.3390/e22090921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
One of the biggest queries in cognitive sciences is the emergence of consciousness from matter. Modern neurobiological theories of consciousness propose that conscious experience is the result of interactions between large-scale neuronal networks in the brain, traditionally described within the realm of classical physics. Here, we propose a generalized connectionist framework in which the emergence of "conscious networks" is not exclusive of large brain areas, but can be identified in subcellular networks exhibiting nontrivial quantum phenomena. The essential feature of such networks is the existence of strong correlations in the system (classical or quantum coherence) and the presence of an optimal point at which the system's complexity and energy dissipation are maximized, whereas free-energy is minimized. This is expressed either by maximization of the information content in large scale functional networks or by achieving optimal efficiency through the quantum Goldilock effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramón Guevara
- Integrative Neuroscience and Cognition Centre (INCC UMR8002), University of Paris and CNRS, 75270 Paris, France
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Diego M. Mateos
- Department of Science and Technology, Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos, Paraná 3100, Argentina;
- Instituto de Matemática Aplicada del Litoral (IMAL-CONICET-UNL), Santa Fe 3000, Argentina
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Obodovskiy I. Peculiarities of the Processes in Microcosm. RADIATION 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63979-0.00001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Marais A, Adams B, Ringsmuth AK, Ferretti M, Gruber JM, Hendrikx R, Schuld M, Smith SL, Sinayskiy I, Krüger TPJ, Petruccione F, van Grondelle R. The future of quantum biology. J R Soc Interface 2018; 15:20180640. [PMID: 30429265 PMCID: PMC6283985 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological systems are dynamical, constantly exchanging energy and matter with the environment in order to maintain the non-equilibrium state synonymous with living. Developments in observational techniques have allowed us to study biological dynamics on increasingly small scales. Such studies have revealed evidence of quantum mechanical effects, which cannot be accounted for by classical physics, in a range of biological processes. Quantum biology is the study of such processes, and here we provide an outline of the current state of the field, as well as insights into future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Marais
- Quantum Research Group, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Betony Adams
- Quantum Research Group, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Andrew K Ringsmuth
- Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia
| | - Marco Ferretti
- Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J Michael Gruber
- Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud Hendrikx
- Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Schuld
- Quantum Research Group, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Samuel L Smith
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ilya Sinayskiy
- Quantum Research Group, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
- National Institute for Theoretical Physics, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Tjaart P J Krüger
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
| | - Francesco Petruccione
- Quantum Research Group, School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
- National Institute for Theoretical Physics, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Rienk van Grondelle
- Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Gillis CG, Jones GA. A Theoretical Investigation into the Effects of Temperature on Spatiotemporal Dynamics of EET in the FMO Complex. J Phys Chem B 2015; 119:4165-74. [DOI: 10.1021/jp509103e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Colm G. Gillis
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research
Park, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Garth A. Jones
- School of Chemistry, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research
Park, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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Eisenberg I, Yochelis S, Ben-Harosh R, David L, Faust A, Even-Dar N, Taha H, Haegel NM, Adir N, Keren N, Paltiel Y. Room temperature biological quantum random walk in phycocyanin nanowires. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2014; 16:11245-50. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cp00345d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Self ordered phycocyanin nanowires as building blocks for future quantum nano-devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Eisenberg
- Applied Physics Department and The Center for Nano-Science and Nano-Technology
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem, 91904 Israel
| | - Shira Yochelis
- Applied Physics Department and The Center for Nano-Science and Nano-Technology
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem, 91904 Israel
| | - Roy Ben-Harosh
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa, 32000 Israel
| | - Liron David
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa, 32000 Israel
| | - Adam Faust
- The Institute of Chemistry and The Center for Nano-science and Nano-technology
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Naama Even-Dar
- The Institute of Chemistry and The Center for Nano-science and Nano-technology
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | | | | | - Noam Adir
- Schulich Faculty of Chemistry
- Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
- Haifa, 32000 Israel
| | - Nir Keren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
- Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences
- Givat Ram
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Yossi Paltiel
- Applied Physics Department and The Center for Nano-Science and Nano-Technology
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Jerusalem, 91904 Israel
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Duffy MJ, Kelly O, Calvert CR, King RB, Belshaw L, Kelly TJ, Costello JT, Timson DJ, Bryan WA, Kierspel T, Turcu ICE, Cacho CM, Springate E, Williams ID, Greenwood JB. Fragmentation of neutral amino acids and small peptides by intense, femtosecond laser pulses. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MASS SPECTROMETRY 2013; 24:1366-1375. [PMID: 23817831 DOI: 10.1007/s13361-013-0653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
High power femtosecond laser pulses have unique properties that could lead to their application as ionization or activation sources in mass spectrometry. By concentrating many photons into pulse lengths approaching the timescales associated with atomic motion, very strong electric field strengths are generated, which can efficiently ionize and fragment molecules without the need for resonant absorption. However, the complex interaction between these pulses and biomolecular species is not well understood. To address this issue, we have studied the interaction of intense, femtosecond pulses with a number of amino acids and small peptides. Unlike previous studies, we have used neutral forms of these molecular targets, which allowed us to investigate dissociation of radical cations without the spectra being complicated by the action of mobile protons. We found fragmentation was dominated by fast, radical-initiated dissociation close to the charge site generated by the initial ionization or from subsequent ultrafast migration of this charge. Fragments with lower yields, which are useful for structural determinations, were also observed and attributed to radical migration caused by hydrogen atom transfer within the molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Duffy
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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