Spatial K-anonymity: A Privacy-preserving Method for COVID-19 Related Geo-spatial Technologies

There is a growing need for spatial privacy considerations in the many geo-spatial technologies that have been created as solutions for COVID-19-related issues. Although effective geo-spatial technologies have already been rolled out, most have significantly sacrificed privacy for utility. In this paper, we explore spatial k-anonymity, a privacy-preserving method that can address this unnecessary tradeoff by providing the best of both privacy and utility. After evaluating its past implications in geo-spatial use cases, we propose applications of spatial k-anonymity in the data sharing and managing of COVID-19 contact tracing technologies as well as heat maps showing a user's travel history. We then justify our propositions by comparing spatial k-anonymity with several other spatial privacy methods, including differential privacy, geo-indistinguishability, and manual consent based redaction. Our hope is to raise awareness of the ever-growing risks associated with spatial privacy and how they can be solved with Spatial K-anonymity.

The SARS CoV-1 3a protein disrupts Golgi complex morphology and cargo trafficking (preprint)

Coronaviruses assemble by budding into the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment, but the pathway of egress from infected cells is not well understood. Efficient egress of infectious bronchitis virus (a gamma coronavirus, CoV) requires neutralization of Golgi pH by the envelope (E) protein. This results in reduced rates of cargo traffic and disrupts Golgi morphology, but it protects the spike protein from aberrant proteolysis. The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) CoV-1 E protein does not disrupt the Golgi, however. We show here that in transfected cells, the ORF3a protein of SARS CoV-1 disrupts Golgi morphology, cargo trafficking and luminal pH. Unlike the infectious bronchitis virus E protein, these functions of the SARS CoV-1 3a protein appear to require its viroporin activity. Thus, neutralization of acidic compartments may be a universal feature of CoV infection, although different viral proteins and mechanisms may be used to achieve this outcome.