Ribonucleic acid genome mutations induced by the Casimir effect

Area of Science:

• Theoretical Physics
• Molecular Biology
• Virology

Background:

• The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome is composed of RNA.
• Quantum vacuum fluctuations are inherent phenomena in the quantum field theory.
• The Casimir effect describes an attractive or repulsive force between two uncharged, conductive surfaces in a vacuum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the Casimir effect within the RNA of SARS-CoV-2.
• To explore the potential for quantum vacuum fluctuations to induce damage or mutations in the viral genome.
• To quantify the mutation rate associated with these quantum effects.

Main Methods:

• Calculated non-thermal Casimir energy for a helical RNA structure.
• Extended calculations to the electromagnetic field.
• Utilized a normalized inverse exponential distribution to determine mutation probability, considering UV-A and UV-C cutoff energies.

Main Results:

• A non-negligible mutation rate per base per infection cycle was found for SARS-CoV-2, particularly influenced by UV-A.
• A maximum mutation rate was identified at a specific RNA ribbon radius.
• Thermal fluctuations (classical and quantum) were found to have a negligible impact on mutation probability.

Conclusions:

• The geometric and topological properties of the viral RNA are the primary contributors to mutations induced by quantum vacuum fluctuations.
• Quantum vacuum fluctuations, rather than thermal effects, are a significant factor in SARS-CoV-2 genome mutations.
• The study provides a theoretical framework for understanding RNA virus mutation mechanisms.