Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Infection of Zebrafish Larvae with Aspergillus Spores for Analysis of Host-Pathogen Interactions
09:42

Infection of Zebrafish Larvae with Aspergillus Spores for Analysis of Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: May 16, 2020

4.5K

Modeling the macrophage-anthrax spore interaction: Implications for early host-pathogen interactions

Buddhi Pantha1, Alan Cross2, Suzanne Lenhart3

  • 1Department of Science and Mathematics, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton, GA, USA.

Mathematical Biosciences
|August 31, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study models early inhalational anthrax infection dynamics. Mathematical modeling revealed two bacterial states and why macrophages are more effective at clearing Bacillus anthracis at higher ratios.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Mathematical Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Inhalational anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is a severe infection originating from inhaled spores.
  • Spores germinate in the lungs, leading to bacterial replication, toxin production, and potential host cell lysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a mathematical model simulating early host-pathogen interactions in Bacillus anthracis infection.
  • To investigate the dynamics of bacterial growth and host immune response, specifically macrophage interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Development of an ordinary differential equations (ODEs) mathematical model.
  • Parameter estimation using in vitro experimental data with varying spore-to-macrophage ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:10, 1:20).

Main Results:

  • Identified two distinct bacterial subpopulations: non-replicating germinated bacteria and replicating vegetative bacteria.
  • Demonstrated that macrophage-induced killing of Bacillus anthracis is more effective at a 1:20 spore-to-macrophage ratio.

Conclusions:

  • The model provides insights into the early stages of inhalational anthrax pathogenesis.
  • Understanding bacterial subpopulations and host-pathogen ratios is crucial for predicting disease progression and developing effective interventions.
Keywords:
AnthraxGerminationMacrophagesMathematical modelingPhagocytosisSpore

More Related Videos

Use of an Optical Trap for Study of Host-Pathogen Interactions for Dynamic Live Cell Imaging09:17

Use of an Optical Trap for Study of Host-Pathogen Interactions for Dynamic Live Cell Imaging

Published on: July 28, 2011

13.5K
In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions10:27

In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions

Published on: October 21, 2022

2.0K

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
21.7K
Van der Waals Interactions01:24

Van der Waals Interactions

Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.
71.6K
piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs02:57

piRNA - Piwi-interacting RNAs

PIWI-interacting RNAs, or piRNAs, are the most abundant short non-coding RNAs. More than 20,000 genes have been found in humans that code for piRNAs while only 2000 genes have been found for miRNAs. piRNAs can act at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and have a vital role in silencing transposable elements present in germ cells. They are also involved in epigenetic silencing and activation. Previously, they were thought to function only in germ cells but new evidence suggests...
7.7K
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
7.4K
Drug-Receptor Interactions01:29

Drug-Receptor Interactions

Drug-receptor interaction describes the binding of receptors by drugs, but not all drug-receptor interactions result in activation and tissue response. For instance, the binding of agonists activates the receptor to generate a cellular reaction, while antagonists bind to receptors without causing their activation.
Several parameters, such as the drug's affinity for its receptor and its efficacy, which is its ability to activate the receptor, determine the drug's effect on the tissue....
7.5K
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
1.2K