droplet nuclei

(noun)

Droplet nuclei are an important mode of transmission among many infectious viruses such as Influenza A. When viruses are shed by an infected person through coughing or sneezing into the air, the mucus coating on the virus starts to evaporate. Once this mucus shell evaporates the remaining viron is called a droplet nucleus or quanta.

Examples of droplet nuclei in the following topics:

  • Portals of Exit

    • The lower the humidity, the quicker the mucus shell evaporates thus allowing the droplet nuclei to stay airborne and not drop to the ground.
    • The low indoor humidity levels in wintertime buildings ensure that higher levels of droplet nuclei will survive: droplet nuclei are so microscopic that they are able to stay airborne indefinitely on the air currents present within indoor spaces.
    • When an infected person coughs or sneezes, a percentage of their viruses will become droplet nuclei.
    • If these droplet nuclei gain access to the eyes, nose, or mouth of an uninfected person (known as a susceptible) – either directly, or indirectly by touching a contaminated surface – then the droplet nuclei may penetrate into the deep recesses of their lungs.
    • Viral diseases that are commonly spread by coughing or sneezing droplet nuclei include the common cold and influenza.

  • Chain of Transmission

    • Transmission occurs when droplets containing microbes from the infected person are propelled a short distance through the air and deposited on the host's body; droplets are generated from the source person mainly by coughing, sneezing, and talking, and during the performance of certain procedures, such as bronchoscopy.
    • Dissemination can be either airborne droplet nuclei (small-particle residue {5 µm or smaller in size} of evaporated droplets containing microorganisms that remain suspended in the air for long periods of time) or dust particles containing the infectious agent.

  • Airborne Transmission of Disease

    • The pathogens are capable of traveling distances on air currents when they are present on either dust particles or small respiratory droplets.
    • The airborne transmission that occurs utilizes small particles or droplet nucleithat contains these infectious agents or pathogens.
    • These particles and droplets are capable of remaining suspended in air for extended periods of time.
    • The ability of these droplets to remain suspended for long periods of time result in the lack of face-to-face contact for infection.

  • Chemical Analysis of Microbial Cytoplasm

    • In prokaryotes, for example, lipid droplets are plentiful in cells which require lipid storage mechanisms.
    • These lipid droplets store molecules such as fatty acids which are present in the cytoplasmic membrane of prokaryotes.

  • Whooping Cough

    • The bacterium is spread by airborne droplets, and its incubation period is one to two weeks.

  • Legionellosis

    • The bacteria can become suspended in water droplets which are then inhaled into the lungs.

  • Portals of Microbe Entry

    • In droplet contact and other airborne transmission it is generally the respiratory system through the nose, mouth, or eye surfaces.

  • Aerobic Hydrocarbon Oxidation

    • They live in the water-fuel interface of the water droplets, form dark black/brown/green, gel-like mats, and cause microbial corrosion to plastic and rubber parts of the aircraft fuel system by consuming them, and to the metal parts by the means of their acidic metabolic products.

  • Colds

    • The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on the other hand is contracted by both direct contact and air born droplets.

  • Viral Pneumonia

    • Typically, a virus will reach the lungs by traveling in droplets through the mouth and nose during inhalation.