Multiphoton Microscopy Supports Social Sciences to Improve the Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic

Erwan Ferrandon¹ (1) , Petra Pelletier²٫³ (2, 3) , Magali Boespflug (4) , Cécile Mclaughlin³ (3) , Sophie Alain⁵ (5, 6) , Claire Lefort (1)

1 XLIM - XLIM
2 LPS (URP_4471) - Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale : contextes et régulation
3 CeReS - Centre de Recherches Sémiotiques
4 CEREGE [Poitiers] - Centre de recherche en gestion [EA 1722]
5 UMR INSERM 1092
6 CHU Limoges

We hardly convince people that they are fighting against an invisible enemy with barrier gestures without proper scientific arguments. The aim of this pluri-disciplinary research program is to understand the viral strategy of SARS-CoV-2 virus that is responsible for the Coronavirus disease, and therefore rationalize the perceived biological threat based on socially constructed image of SARS-CoV-2 virus within French population. Indeed, laymen's cognitive processes, emotional reactions and behaviours are driven by rather subjective perception of the reality. Our collaboration with social sciences allows us to seize the SARS-CoV-2 social representations of profane population in order to guide an explicative approach of the current sanitary measures, based on rigorous scientific demonstrations. The first results lead us to a multi-photon microscopy analyses of SARS-CoV-2 virions, devoted to image the structure of the free virion label-free. In that case, the resolution of an optical microscope is a limiting factor. To visualize a target of 120 nm, two main optimizations are necessary: an optimization of the instrumental resolution and of the virion preparation. In the first case, we have chosen a computational strategy resting on a mathematical estimation of the instrumental point-spread-function (PSF), combined with a deconvolution solution in order to reveal details in the image initially lost in blur and noise (Boutet de Monvel et al., 2003). The final aim is to identify the precise shape of the virion in the image by an optical solution and to identify the presence of virions by artificial intelligence tools. Finally, we aim to follow the infectious process in vivo the infected cells in order to reveal its viral strategy in the cells. With such a research strategy, we will be able to follow the efficiency of anti-viral treatments directly within living cells by an optical microscopy technology. Thus, we could demonstrate to laymen SARS-CoV-2 virus specificities that will allow to strengthen the trust between scientists and collectivity and contribute to shape related public policies.

Mots clés: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; multiphoton microscopy; social sciences; computational image retreatment

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Physique [physics]; Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]; Sciences de l'Homme et Société

Erwan Ferrandon¹, Petra Pelletier²٫³, Magali Boespflug, Cécile Mclaughlin³, Sophie Alain⁵, et al.. Multiphoton Microscopy Supports Social Sciences to Improve the Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic. International Association of Publishers. International Symposium on Global Pandemics and Multidisciplinary COVID-19 Studies, Mar 2021, Ankara, Turkey. , pp.211-215, 2021, 978-605-70289-5-2. ⟨hal-03187909⟩