Quantum Theory for Infectious Diseases: Insights, Prospects, and Challenges

The continuous manifestations of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases across the world is championed by microorganisms particularly, viruses and bacteria. These manifestations consistently keep researchers at work in establishing approaches towards minimising the burden of infectious diseases both locally and internationally. Microorganisms, especially bacteria and viruses, possess very disparate features like the presence of sensors, in-built biological engines, immaculate communication means, processing architecture, among others. Researchers are introducing these biological entities into the quantum theory network where their dynamical physical properties and concepts can be used to develop response mechanisms during infection stages. This article aims to review and present an account of quantum approaches derived from quantum mechanics as an emerging fundamental enabler and a novel concept in the treatment of infectious diseases. It also looks at the possible application of these quantum approaches in revolutionising discovery, development, and production of vaccines at a quantum scale and speed. A descriptive review of the literature was conducted by searching these electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and SciELO. Findings in this article show that through the advent of single-particle approaches and high-resolution techniques, viral dynamics can be scrutinised during and after their assembly towards studying their infection development pathway. Additionally, quantum information in biological entities has been found to provide hereditary information insights supporting genetic studies in relation to infectious diseases. The introduction of quantum-inspired genetic algorithms towards predicting the secondary structures of RNA depicts certain superiority over strategies currently in existence. Ongoing research is putting quantum-based studies in an ideal direction towards shaping the understanding and perhaps treatment of infectious diseases.