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Cycles, chaos, and evolution in virus cultures: a model of defective interfering particles

T B Kirkwood1, C R Bangham

  • 1Laboratory of Mathematical Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 30, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Defective interfering particles (DIP) can cause unpredictable virus population dynamics. A mathematical model explains these complex effects, suggesting caution when using interfering viruses therapeutically.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Mathematical Biology
  • Chaos Theory

Background:

  • Defective interfering particles (DIP) are viral deletion mutants that impact parent virus replication.
  • DIP exhibit complex in vitro effects, including persistent infections, titer fluctuations, viral eradication, and rapid evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explain the complex effects of DIP on virus population dynamics using a mathematical model.
  • To demonstrate that DIP-induced variations in virus titer exhibit characteristics of deterministic chaos.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a simple mathematical model based on experimental observations of DIP and virus interactions.
  • Analysis of the model to explain the population dynamics of virus growth in the presence of DIP.

Main Results:

  • The mathematical model successfully explains major effects of DIP on virus population dynamics.
  • Virus titer variations induced by DIP display characteristics of deterministic chaos, indicating inherent unpredictability.
  • The model's findings suggest DIP effects are not dependent on factors like temperature-sensitive mutants or interferons.

Conclusions:

  • Complex viral dynamics attributed to DIP can be explained by a simple mathematical model.
  • The unpredictable nature of DIP effects necessitates caution in their therapeutic applications.
  • Interfering viruses should be used cautiously due to their intrinsically unpredictable quantitative effects.

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