Conveners
Modelling immune interactions with disease: Part A
- Lisette dePillis (Harvey Mudd College)
Modelling immune interactions with disease: Part B
- Peter Kim (University of Sydney)
Description
In the quest to better understand the complex interactions between the multiple components of the immune system and disease, mathematical models can be used to address specific questions regarding disease progression, immune activation, and pathologies. The challenge is to find a balance between making models tractable and making models realistic. A good model answers important questions accurately. In this session, we will bring together applied mathematicians working in the area of immune dynamics, disease progression, and treatment to present their up-to-date research in the topic.
Immune system dynamics in the context of a number of diseases, including certain cancers and type I diabetes, continues to play an increasingly central role in the development of new treatment strategies. The critical importance of the immune system in fighting such diseases has been verified clinically, as well as through mathematical models.
Many open questions remain, however, including...
Cancer cell invasion, recognised as one of the hallmarks of cancer, is a complex process involving the secretion of matrix-degrading enzymes that have the ability to degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Combined with cell proliferation, migration, and changes in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, a tumour is able to spread into the surrounding tissue. We highlight the...
In the study of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection dynamics, the reproductive ratio is a well known tool which provides a steady-state condition to determine the outcome of the infection. This paper assesses the control of HIV by the immune response. Dynamical conditions for the containment of HIV infection by the HIV-specific CD8+ T cell response are evaluated using a model of...
Infections with the malaria parasite can lead to severe illness and mortality, with nearly half a million deaths attributed to malaria globally each year. Adults from malaria endemic regions often have immunity to malaria and are much less susceptible to disease, compared with children. Understanding how a host can control malaria infections is critical in guiding the development of a much...
The idea of cancer as an evolutionary disease is well established. Cancer development is driven by mutation and selective forces, including the action of the immune system, interspecific competition and therapies. Different tumour types exhibit resistance to the immune system suggesting the investigation of different aspects of the tumoural microenvironment to better understand cancer.
The...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus typeⅠ (HIV-1) mutations are rapidly accumulated through recombination events which are largely caused by HIV-1 coinfection [1]. Therefore, HIV-1 coinfection has the potential to produce the drug-resistant viruses, which leads to the high pathologies and disease progression. Recently, it has been reported that coinfection occurs more frequently than at random both...
In recent years, advances in cancer research have shown that the body’s immune response to tumour cells plays a significant role in fighting cancer growth. Although the immune system is intrinsically capable of destroying tumour cells, tumours and their microenvironment have an ability to suppress the immune response. Whereas the roles of some immune cells have been greatly studied, the role...
Modern anti-retroviral therapy can effectively control HIV. However, the virus cannot be eradicated due to the presence of latently infected CD4+ cells that cause the reactivation of virus when a patient stops anti-retroviral treatment.
There is a lack of knowledge about the basic dynamics of reactivation of latently infected cells and the interaction of virus with immunity. We combined...
