Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in Droplets by Mass Spectrometry and Imaging with High Power Lasers

ORAL

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 appears to be primarily transmitted via droplets of different sizes causing COVID-19. We report on recently commenced studies of SARS-CoV-2 in droplets where we use high power, short laser pulses to induce fragmentation and ionization of virus-laden droplets, combined with betatron x-ray imaging. Our goal is to collect ion spectra and to correlate them with images to reconstruct the microenvironment of their origin for a series of droplet compositions. If we are successful in detecting fingerprint ions then this can be used as a diagnostic tool for rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 in biological specimen, including saliva, nasopharyngeal swabs and tracheal aspirates. In addition, this approach can identify biochemical targets to decrease viral viability by modifying the microenvironment of SARS-CoV-2-laden droplets limiting the spread of COVID-19.

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Authors

  • T. Schenkel

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley National Laboratory

  • T Ostermayr

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Arun Persaud

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Jeroen van Tilborg

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL

  • S. Steinke

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Hai-En Tsai

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, BELLA Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • L. Obst-Huebl

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley National Laboratory

  • A. M. Snijders

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley National Laboratory

  • E. Blakely

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley National Laboratory

  • J.-H. Mao

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Q. Ji

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Cameron G. R. Geddes

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Carl Schroeder

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • P. Seidl

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Eric Esarey

    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, Berkeley National Laboratory