Non-Markovain Quantum State Diffusion for the Tunneling in SARS-COVID-19 virus

TL;DR

This paper introduces a non-Markovian quantum model for electron tunneling in SARS-CoV-2, revealing complex dynamics that improve understanding of viral infection mechanisms beyond traditional Markovian approaches.

Contribution

The study develops a novel non-Markovian quantum framework for electron tunneling in SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the limitations of Markovian models in biological quantum processes.

Findings

Electron tunneling exhibits non-Markovian behavior in SARS-CoV-2.

Markovian models produce unphysical results in strong coupling regimes.

Non-Markovian dynamics are essential for accurate biological quantum modeling.

Abstract

In the context of biology, unlike the comprehensively established Standard Model in physics, many biological processes lack a complete theoretical framework and are often described phenomenologically. A pertinent example is olfaction -- the process through which humans and animals distinguish various odors. The conventional biological explanation for olfaction relies on the lock and key model, which, while useful, does not fully account for all observed phenomena. As an alternative or complement to this model, vibration-assisted electron tunneling has been proposed. Drawing inspiration from the vibration-assisted electron tunneling model for olfaction, we have developed a theoretical model for electron tunneling in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection within a non-Markovian framework. We approach this by solving the non-Markovian quantum stochastic Schrodinger equation. In our model, the spike protein and the GPCR receptor are conceptualized as a dimer, utilizing the spin-Boson model to facilitate the description of electron tunneling. Our analysis demonstrates that electron tunneling in this context exhibits inherently non-Markovian characteristics, extending into the intermediate and strong coupling regimes between the dimer components. This behavior stands in stark contrast to predictions from Markovian models, which fail to accurately describe electron tunneling in the strong coupling limit. Notably, Markovian approximations often lead to unphysical negative probabilities in this regime, underscoring their limitations and highlighting the necessity of incorporating non-Markovian dynamics for a more realistic description of biological quantum processes. This approach not only broadens our understanding of viral infection mechanisms but also enhances the biological accuracy and relevance of our theoretical framework in describing complex biological interactions.