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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
Secondary bacterial infections associated with influenza are a leading cause of death in the United States. These bacterial infections, mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, capitalize on the environment in the respiratory tract created by the influenza virus. Experiments suggest a lethal synergism between these pathogens, but the precise mechanisms involved are unknown. Increased bacterial adherence is observed and may be attributed to viral neuraminidase activity, dysfunctional immune responses, and/or accelerated cell regeneration. Another interesting and surprising observation are changes in viral titers following the challenge with bacteria. While the kinetics and interactions of these two pathogens are not well understood, we have developed ordinary differential equation models of an influenza infection followed by a bacterial infection to fit experimental data. In this talk, I will discuss the data, preliminary models, and the difficulties we are currently facing.
Host: Alan Perelson, T-10