Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
03:53
Development of Multiplex Real-Time RT-qPCR Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B, and MERS-CoV
Published on: November 10, 2023
Infection History Shapes Co-Epidemic Dynamics: A Transmission Source-Pathway Decomposition for COVID-19 and Influenza
Mani Dhakal1, Brajendra K Singh2, Rajeev K Azad3
1Department of Mathematics, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA.
Microorganisms
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Infection history significantly impacts SARS-CoV-2 and influenza transmission. Prior influenza infection dramatically increases COVID-19 cases, highlighting sequence-dependent dynamics and the need for pathway-aware interventions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Mathematical Modeling
Background:
- Concurrent circulation of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and influenza poses complex immunological challenges.
- Conventional models often oversimplify co-infection dynamics, limiting understanding of infection history's impact on transmission.
- Prior infection with one virus can alter susceptibility and transmissibility to the other.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel epidemiological model accounting for sequence-dependent susceptibility and transmissibility in co-infections.
- To quantify the contribution of different infection histories (single, co-, sequential) to transmission dynamics.
- To analyze the impact of infection sequence on COVID-19 and influenza transmission patterns.
Main Methods:
- Developed a stratified, deterministic co-infection model distinguishing single, concurrent, and sequential infections.
- Introduced a transmission source-pathway decomposition framework to attribute new infections.
- Accounted for heterogeneity in susceptibility and transmissibility based on infection history.
Main Results:
- Revealed a significant sequence-driven asymmetry in transmission dynamics.
- Found that sequential infection (influenza followed by COVID-19) predominantly drives COVID-19 transmission (approx. 73% of cases).
- Influenza transmission was primarily driven by singly infected individuals (approx. 96% of cases).
Conclusions:
- Infection history is a primary driver of co-epidemic dynamics, with a notable asymmetry.
- An initial influenza wave can significantly reshape the COVID-19 transmission landscape.
- Pathway-aware interventions, like COVID-19 vaccination, are crucial for managing co-epidemics by targeting vulnerable hosts.
Keywords:
COVID-19co-infectioncross-susceptibilitydisease burdeninfluenzanon-pharmaceutical interventionssequential infectiontransmission pathwaysvaccinationMore Related Videos
12:21A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
Published on: September 28, 2022
07:36Contact-Free Co-Culture Model for the Study of Innate Immune Cell Activation During Respiratory Virus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2021
Related Concept Videos
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:27Influenza
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
01:20Infection
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
00:57Viral Recombination
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
01:18Steps in Outbreak Investigation
In the ever-evolving field of public health, statistical analysis serves as a cornerstone for understanding and managing disease outbreaks. By leveraging various statistical tools, health professionals can predict potential outbreaks, analyze ongoing situations, and devise effective responses to mitigate impact. For that to happen, there are a few possible stages of the analysis:
01:30Reservoir of Infection
Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...