1
|
Fletcher LE, Martin LB, Downs CJ. Leukocyte Concentrations Are Isometric in Reptiles Unlike in Endotherms. Physiol Biochem Zool 2023; 96:405-417. [PMID: 38237194 DOI: 10.1086/727050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
AbstractHow do large and small reptiles defend against infections, given the consequences of body mass for physiology and disease transmission? Functionally equivalent mammalian and avian granulocytes increased disproportionately with body mass (i.e., scaled hypermetrically), such that large organisms had higher concentrations than expected by a prediction of proportional protection across sizes. However, as these scaling relationships were derived from endothermic animals, they do not necessarily inform the scaling of leukocyte concentration for ectothermic reptiles that have a different physiology and evolutionary history. Here, we asked whether and how lymphocyte and heterophil concentrations relate to body mass among more than 120 reptile species. We compared these relationships to those found in birds and mammals and to existing scaling frameworks (i.e., protecton, complexity, rate of metabolism, or safety factor hypotheses). Both lymphocyte and heterophil concentrations scaled almost isometrically among reptiles. In contrast, functionally equivalent granulocytes scaled hypermetrically and lymphocytes scaled isometrically in birds and mammals. Life history traits were also poor predictors of variation in reptilian heterophil and lymphocyte concentrations. Our results provide insight into differences in immune protection in birds and mammals relative to that in reptiles through a comparative lens. The shape of scaling relationships differs, which should be considered when modeling disease dynamics among these groups.
Collapse
|
2
|
Hagen EH, Blackwell AD, Lightner AD, Sullivan RJ. Homo medicus: The transition to meat eating increased pathogen pressure and the use of pharmacological plants in Homo. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2023; 180:589-617. [PMID: 36815505 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The human lineage transitioned to a more carnivorous niche 2.6 mya and evolved a large body size and slower life history, which likely increased zoonotic pathogen pressure. Evidence for this increase includes increased zoonotic infections in modern hunter-gatherers and bushmeat hunters, exceptionally low stomach pH compared to other primates, and divergence in immune-related genes. These all point to change, and probably intensification, in the infectious disease environment of Homo compared to earlier hominins and other apes. At the same time, the brain, an organ in which immune responses are constrained, began to triple in size. We propose that the combination of increased zoonotic pathogen pressure and the challenges of defending a large brain and body from pathogens in a long-lived mammal, selected for intensification of the plant-based self-medication strategies already in place in apes and other primates. In support, there is evidence of medicinal plant use by hominins in the middle Paleolithic, and all cultures today have sophisticated, plant-based medical systems, add spices to food, and regularly consume psychoactive plant substances that are harmful to helminths and other pathogens. We propose that the computational challenges of discovering effective plant-based treatments, the consequent ability to consume more energy-rich animal foods, and the reduced reliance on energetically-costly immune responses helped select for increased cognitive abilities and unique exchange relationships in Homo. In the story of human evolution, which has long emphasized hunting skills, medical skills had an equal role to play.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward H Hagen
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aaron D Lightner
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
- Department of the Study of Religion, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Roger J Sullivan
- Department of Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Downs CJ, Schoenle LA, Goolsby EW, Oakey SJ, Ball R, Jiang RHY, Martin LB. Large Mammals Have More Powerful Antibacterial Defenses Than Expected from Their Metabolic Rates. Am Nat 2023; 201:287-301. [PMID: 36724463 DOI: 10.1086/722504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
AbstractTerrestrial mammals span seven orders of magnitude in body size, ranging from the <2-g Etruscan pygmy shrew (Suncus etruscus) to the >3,900-kg African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Although body size profoundly affects the behavior, physiology, ecology, and evolution of species, how investment in functional immune defenses changes with body size across species is unknown. Here, we (1) developed a novel 12-point dilution curve approach to describe and compare antibacterial capacity against three bacterial species among >160 terrestrial species of mammals and (2) tested published predictions about the scaling of immune defenses. Our study focused on the safety factor hypothesis, which predicts that broad, early-acting immune defenses should scale hypermetrically with body mass. However, our three statistical approaches demonstrated that antibacterial activity in sera across mammals exhibits isometry; killing capacity did not change with body size across species. Intriguingly, this result indicates that the serum of a large mammal is less hospitable to bacteria than would be predicted by its metabolic rates. In other words, if metabolic rates underlie the rates of physiological reactions as postulated by the metabolic theory of ecology, large species should have disproportionately lower antibacterial capacity than small species, but they do not. These results have direct implications for effectively modeling the evolution of immune defenses and identifying potential reservoir hosts of pathogens.
Collapse
|
4
|
Martin LB, Ruhs EC, Oakey S, Downs CJ. Leukocyte allometries in birds are not affected by captivity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:576-582. [PMID: 35286769 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Body size affects many traits, but often in allometric, or disproportionate ways. For example, large avian and mammalian species circulate far more of some immune cells than expected for their size based on simple geometric principles. To date, such hypermetric immune scaling has mostly been described in zoo-dwelling individuals, so it remains obscure whether immune hyper-allometries have any natural relevance. Here, we asked whether granulocyte and lymphocyte allometries in wild birds differ from those described in captive species. Our previous allometric studies of avian immune cell concentrations were performed on animals kept for their lifetimes in captivity where conditions are benign and fairly consistent. In natural conditions, infection, stress, nutrition, climate, and myriad other forces could alter immune traits and hence mask any interspecific scaling relationships between immune cells and body size. Counter to this expectation, we found no evidence that immune cell allometries differed between captive and wild species, although we had to rely on cell proportion data, as insufficient concentration data were available for wild species. Our results indicate that even in variable and challenging natural contexts, immune allometries endure and might affect disease ecology and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lynn B Martin
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Emily Cornelius Ruhs
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Samantha Oakey
- Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Disease‐mediated nutrient dynamics: Coupling host‐pathogen interactions with ecosystem elements and energy. ECOL MONOGR 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
|
6
|
Heitzman-Breen N, Golden J, Vazquez A, Kuchinsky SC, Duggal NK, Ciupe SM. Modeling the dynamics of Usutu virus infection in birds. J Theor Biol 2021; 531:110896. [PMID: 34506809 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2021.110896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Usutu virus is an emerging zoonotic flavivirus causing high avian mortality rates and occasional severe neurological disorders in humans. Several virus strains are co-circulating and the differences in their characteristics and avian pathogenesis levels are still unknown. In this study, we use within-host mathematical models to characterize the mechanisms responsible for virus expansion and clearance in juvenile chickens challenged with four Usutu virus strains. We find heterogeneity between the virus strains, with the time between cell infection and viral production varying between 16 h and 23 h, the infected cell lifespan varying between 48 min and 9.5 h, and the basic reproductive number R0 varying between 12.05 and 19.49. The strains with high basic reproductive number have short infected cell lifespan, indicative of immune responses. The virus strains with low basic reproductive number have lower viral peaks and longer lasting viremia, due to lower infection rates and high infected cell lifespan. We discuss how the host and virus heterogeneities may differently impact the public health threat presented by these virus strains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nora Heitzman-Breen
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jacob Golden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Ana Vazquez
- National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Epidemiology and Public Health Network of Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sarah C Kuchinsky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Nisha K Duggal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Stanca M Ciupe
- Department of Mathematics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang YXG, Matson KD, Santini L, Visconti P, Hilbers JP, Huijbregts MAJ, Xu Y, Prins HHT, Allen T, Huang ZYX, de Boer WF. Mammal assemblage composition predicts global patterns in emerging infectious disease risk. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4995-5007. [PMID: 34214237 PMCID: PMC8518613 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
As a source of emerging infectious diseases, wildlife assemblages (and related spatial patterns) must be quantitatively assessed to help identify high-risk locations. Previous assessments have largely focussed on the distributions of individual species; however, transmission dynamics are expected to depend on assemblage composition. Moreover, disease-diversity relationships have mainly been studied in the context of species loss, but assemblage composition and disease risk (e.g. infection prevalence in wildlife assemblages) can change without extinction. Based on the predicted distributions and abundances of 4466 mammal species, we estimated global patterns of disease risk through the calculation of the community-level basic reproductive ratio R0, an index of invasion potential, persistence, and maximum prevalence of a pathogen in a wildlife assemblage. For density-dependent diseases, we found that, in addition to tropical areas which are commonly viewed as infectious disease hotspots, northern temperate latitudes included high-risk areas. We also forecasted the effects of climate change and habitat loss from 2015 to 2035. Over this period, many local assemblages showed no net loss of species richness, but the assemblage composition (i.e. the mix of species and their abundances) changed considerably. Simultaneously, most areas experienced a decreased risk of density-dependent diseases but an increased risk of frequency-dependent diseases. We further explored the factors driving these changes in disease risk. Our results suggest that biodiversity and changes therein jointly influence disease risk. Understanding these changes and their drivers and ultimately identifying emerging infectious disease hotspots can help health officials prioritize resource distribution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingying X. G. Wang
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Biological and Environmental ScienceUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Kevin D. Matson
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Luca Santini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”Sapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (CNR‐IRET)National Research CouncilMonterotondo (Rome)Italy
- Department of Environmental ScienceRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Piero Visconti
- International Institute for Applied System AnalysisLaxenburgAustria
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
| | - Jelle P. Hilbers
- Department of Environmental ScienceRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Yanjie Xu
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- The Finnish Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of HelsinkiHelsinkiFinland
| | - Herbert H. T. Prins
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- Department of Animal SciencesWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Zheng Y. X. Huang
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Willem F. de Boer
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Albery GF, Becker DJ. Fast-lived Hosts and Zoonotic Risk. Trends Parasitol 2020; 37:117-129. [PMID: 33214097 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Because most emerging human pathogens originate in mammals, many studies aim to identify host traits that determine the risk of sourcing zoonotic outbreaks. Studies regularly assert that 'fast-lived' mammal species exhibiting greater fecundity and shorter lifespans tend to host more zoonoses; however, the causes of this association remain poorly understood and they cover a range of immune and nonimmune mechanisms. We discuss these drivers in the context of evolutionary ecology and wildlife-human interactions. Ultimately, differentiating these mechanisms will require linking interspecific variation in life history with immunity, pathogen diversity, transmissibility, and zoonotic risk, and critical data gaps currently limit our ability to do so. We highlight sampling and analytical frameworks to address this gap and to better inform zoonotic reservoir prediction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory F Albery
- Department of Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Large-scale disease patterns explained by climatic seasonality and host traits. Oecologia 2020; 194:723-733. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04782-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
10
|
Ruhs EC, Martin LB, Downs CJ. The impacts of body mass on immune cell concentrations in birds. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200655. [PMID: 32900319 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Body mass affects many biological traits, but its impacts on immune defences are fairly unknown. Recent research on mammals found that neutrophil concentrations disproportionately increased (scaled hypermetrically) with body mass, a result not predicted by any existing theory. Although the scaling relationship for mammals might predict how leucocyte concentrations scale with body mass in other vertebrates, vertebrate classes are distinct in many ways that might affect their current and historic interactions with parasites and hence the evolution of their immune systems. Subsequently, here, we asked which existing scaling hypothesis best-predicts relationships between body mass and lymphocyte, eosinophil and heterophil concentrations-the avian functional equivalent of neutrophils-among more than 100 species of birds. We then examined the predictive power of body mass relative to life-history variation, as extensive literature indicates that the timing of key life events has influenced immune system variation among species. Finally, we ask whether avian scaling patterns differ from the patterns we observed in mammals. We found that an intercept-only model best explained lymphocyte and eosinophil concentrations among birds, indicating that the concentrations of these cell types were both independent of body mass. For heterophils, however, body mass explained 31% of the variation in concentrations among species, much more than life-history variation (4%). As with mammalian neutrophils, avian heterophils scaled hypermetrically (b = 0.19 ± 0.05), but more steeply than mammals (approx. 1.5 ×; 0.11 ± 0.03). As such, we discuss why birds might require more broadly protective cells compared to mammals of the same body size. Overall, body mass appears to have strong influences on the architecture of immune systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lynn B Martin
- Global and Planetary Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Cynthia J Downs
- Environmental & Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Downs CJ, Dochtermann NA, Ball R, Klasing KC, Martin LB. The Effects of Body Mass on Immune Cell Concentrations of Mammals. Am Nat 2020; 195:107-114. [DOI: 10.1086/706235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
12
|
Guth S, Visher E, Boots M, Brook CE. Host phylogenetic distance drives trends in virus virulence and transmissibility across the animal-human interface. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190296. [PMID: 31401961 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, efforts to assess 'zoonotic risk' have focused mainly on quantifying the potential for cross-species emergence of viruses from animal hosts. However, viruses clearly differ in relative burden, both in terms of morbidity and mortality (virulence) incurred and the capacity for sustained human-to-human transmission. Extending previously published databases, we delineated host and viral traits predictive of human mortality associated with viral spillover, viral capacity to transmit between humans following spillover and the probability of a given virus being zoonotic. We demonstrate that increasing host phylogenetic distance from humans positively correlates with human mortality but negatively correlates with human transmissibility, suggesting that the virulence induced by viruses emerging from hosts at high phylogenetic distance may limit capacity for human transmission. Our key result is that hosts most closely related to humans harbour zoonoses of lower impact in terms of morbidity and mortality, while the most distantly related hosts-in particular, order Chiroptera (bats)-harbour highly virulent zoonoses with a lower capacity for endemic establishment in human hosts. As a whole, our results emphasize the importance of understanding how zoonoses manifest in the human population and also highlight potential risks associated with multi-host transmission chains in spillover. This article is part of the theme issue 'Dynamic and integrative approaches to understanding pathogen spillover'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Guth
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elisa Visher
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mike Boots
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Cara E Brook
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Downs CJ, Schoenle LA, Han BA, Harrison JF, Martin LB. Scaling of Host Competence. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:182-192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
14
|
Kendall LV, Owiny JR, Dohm ED, Knapek KJ, Lee ES, Kopanke JH, Fink M, Hansen SA, Ayers JD. Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction in Animal Studies With Biohazardous Agents. ILAR J 2019; 59:177-194. [DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Animal models are critical to the advancement of our knowledge of infectious disease pathogenesis, diagnostics, therapeutics, and prevention strategies. The use of animal models requires thoughtful consideration for their well-being, as infections can significantly impact the general health of an animal and impair their welfare. Application of the 3Rs—replacement, refinement, and reduction—to animal models using biohazardous agents can improve the scientific merit and animal welfare. Replacement of animal models can use in vitro techniques such as cell culture systems, mathematical models, and engineered tissues or invertebrate animal hosts such as amoeba, worms, fruit flies, and cockroaches. Refinements can use a variety of techniques to more closely monitor the course of disease. These include the use of biomarkers, body temperature, behavioral observations, and clinical scoring systems. Reduction is possible using advanced technologies such as in vivo telemetry and imaging, allowing longitudinal assessment of animals during the course of disease. While there is no single method to universally replace, refine, or reduce animal models, the alternatives and techniques discussed are broadly applicable and they should be considered when infectious disease animal models are developed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lon V Kendall
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, and Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - James R Owiny
- Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Erik D Dohm
- Animal Resources Program, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Katie J Knapek
- Comparative Medicine Training Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Erin S Lee
- Animal Resource Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
| | - Jennifer H Kopanke
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Michael Fink
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Sarah A Hansen
- Office of Animal Resources, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Jessica D Ayers
- Laboratory Animal Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Recent Zika virus outbreaks have been associated with severe outcomes, especially during pregnancy. A great deal of effort has been put toward understanding this virus, particularly the immune mechanisms responsible for rapid viral control in the majority of infections. Identifying and understanding the key mechanisms of immune control will provide the foundation for the development of effective vaccines and antiviral therapy. Here, we outline a mathematical modeling approach for analyzing the within-host dynamics of Zika virus, and we describe how these models can be used to understand key aspects of the viral life cycle and to predict antiviral efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Best
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
| | - Alan S. Perelson
- Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
| |
Collapse
|