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Intermittent treatment of severe influenza

Lucas Deecke1, Hana M Dobrovolny2

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany.

Journal of Theoretical Biology
|January 23, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Intermittent antiviral treatment can minimize drug-resistant influenza mutants. Successful strategies depend on cell regeneration rates, requiring adjusted cycling parameters for effective viral load reduction.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Mathematical Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Severe influenza strains can lead to prolonged infections, increasing the risk of drug-resistant mutant emergence.
  • Antiviral drugs are crucial for treating new influenza strains lacking vaccines, but resistance is a significant concern.
  • Intermittent drug application is a strategy to combat antiviral resistance by alternating treatment and non-treatment phases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of intermittent antiviral treatment in minimizing drug-resistant influenza mutants.
  • To evaluate the impact of two antiviral classes—neuraminidase inhibitors and adamantanes—on resistance emergence.
  • To determine the role of cell regeneration in the success of intermittent treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A stochastic model simulating severe influenza infections was combined with a drug resistance model.
  • Simulations explored intermittent treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors and adamantanes.
  • The influence of varying cell regeneration rates on treatment outcomes was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Intermittent antiviral treatment can reduce the emergence of drug-resistant influenza mutants.
  • Cell regeneration is a critical factor for the successful implementation of intermittent treatment.
  • Optimal cycling parameters for intermittent therapy are dependent on the rate of cell regeneration.

Conclusions:

  • Intermittent antiviral therapy presents a viable strategy to manage drug resistance in severe influenza.
  • The effectiveness of intermittent treatment is intrinsically linked to host cell regeneration dynamics.
  • Tailoring treatment schedules based on regeneration rates is essential for maximizing antiviral efficacy and minimizing resistance.
Keywords:
Cell regenerationInfluenzaIntermittent treatmentSevere infectionSwitched system

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