Abstract
There are many ways in which the body responds to infections. The collective response of the innate and adaptive immune responses is called the immune response. The adaptive response is more sophisticated, and therefore requires greater study to understand it. It is the adaptive response that controls infections and prevents recurring disease. One of the main adaptive responses is the antibody response that can bind to virions and prevent them from infecting cells. Most studies of infection are done based on a single infectious agent and how it interacts with the immune system. In many cases there are multiple infections that must be repelled by the immune system at any given time. We mathematically model the dynamics of antibody response in an immunocompromised system. We study how immunocomprised patients such as pregnant women and pediatrics perinatally infected with HIV will respond to new infections. In particular we study an infection by a new strain of Influenza virus, Swine H1N1, on the system. We use our model to explore the different ways in which the mechanisms of antibody response are affected by different levels of immune suppression. These states of immune suppression are compared with the normal, or immunocompetent, state to determine the disparity in response. The model’s validity is tested with a data set from a cohort of immunocomprimised patients.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Evan Haskell
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-13-2012 1:00 PM
End Date
4-13-2012 5:30 PM
A B Cell Driven Model of Antibody Response in an Immunocompromised System
Alvin Sherman Library
There are many ways in which the body responds to infections. The collective response of the innate and adaptive immune responses is called the immune response. The adaptive response is more sophisticated, and therefore requires greater study to understand it. It is the adaptive response that controls infections and prevents recurring disease. One of the main adaptive responses is the antibody response that can bind to virions and prevent them from infecting cells. Most studies of infection are done based on a single infectious agent and how it interacts with the immune system. In many cases there are multiple infections that must be repelled by the immune system at any given time. We mathematically model the dynamics of antibody response in an immunocompromised system. We study how immunocomprised patients such as pregnant women and pediatrics perinatally infected with HIV will respond to new infections. In particular we study an infection by a new strain of Influenza virus, Swine H1N1, on the system. We use our model to explore the different ways in which the mechanisms of antibody response are affected by different levels of immune suppression. These states of immune suppression are compared with the normal, or immunocompetent, state to determine the disparity in response. The model’s validity is tested with a data set from a cohort of immunocomprimised patients.
