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A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions
Published on: July 18, 2013
Energy cost of infection burden: an approach to understanding the dynamics of host-pathogen interactions
Alexei A Romanyukha1, Sergey G Rudnev, Igor A Sidorov
1Institute of Numerical Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Gubkin Str. 8, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation. eburg@inm.ras.ru
Abstract:
A mathematical model of long-term immune defense against infection was used to estimate the energy involved in the principal processes of immune resistance during periods of health and infection. From these values, an optimal level of energy was determined for immune response depending on infection burden. The present findings suggest that weak but prevalent pathogens lead to latent or chronic infection, whereas more virulent but less prevalent pathogens result in acute infection. This energy-based approach offers insight into the mechanisms of immune system adaptation leading to the development of chronic infectious diseases and immune deficiencies.
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