This manuscript describes the potentially significant role of interfacial tension in viral infection. Our hypothesis is based on evidence from drop coalescence hydrodynamics. A change in membrane tension can trigger fusion between the vesicle and cell such that genetic material, like viral RNA, can subsequently be transported to the cell interior. In other cases, RNA may reside near the cell membrane inside the cell, which could make their removal energetically unfavorable because of hydrodynamic interactions between membrane and RNA. Interfacial tension of the virus membrane can be modulated by temperature, among many other factors, of the mucosa layer. We discuss our hypothesis within the scope of recent SARS-CoV-2 studies where temperature-dependent membrane surface tension could be impacted through different atmospheric conditions, air conditioning systems, and the use of masks.

这份手稿描述了界面张力在病毒感染中的潜在重要作用。我们的假设基于液滴聚结流体动力学的证据。膜张力的变化可以触发囊泡和细胞之间的融合，这样遗传物质，如病毒 RNA，可以随后被运输到细胞内部。在其他情况下，RNA 可能位于细胞内的细胞膜附近，由于膜和 RNA 之间的流体动力学相互作用，这可能使它们的去除在能量上不利。病毒膜的界面张力可以通过粘膜层的温度以及许多其他因素来调节。我们在最近的 SARS-CoV-2 研究范围内讨论了我们的假设，其中温度依赖性膜表面张力可能会受到不同大气条件的影响，