dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaDoes host contact structure reduce pathogen diversity?
| Authors | A. Nunes, M. M. Telo da Gama, M. G. M. Gomes |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | q-bio/0507013 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0507013 |
Abstract
We investigate the dynamics of a simple epidemiological model for the invasion by a pathogen strain of a population where another strain circulates. We assume that reinfection by the same strain is possible but occurs at a reduced rate due to acquired immunity. The rate of reinfection by a distinct strain is also reduced due to cross-immunity. Individual based simulations of this model on a `small-world' network show that the host contact network structure significantly affects the outcome of such an invasion, and as a consequence will affect the patterns of pathogen evolution. In particular, host populations interacting through a 'small-world' network of contacts support lower prevalence of infection than well-mixed populations, and the region in parameter space for which an invading strain can become endemic and coexist with the circulating strain is smaller, reducing the potential to accommodate pathogen diversity. We discuss the underlying mechanisms for the reported effects, and we propose an effective mean-field model to account for the contact structure of the host population in 'small-world' networks.
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"abstract": "We investigate the dynamics of a simple epidemiological model for the\ninvasion by a pathogen strain of a population where another strain circulates.\nWe assume that reinfection by the same strain is possible but occurs at a\nreduced rate due to acquired immunity. The rate of reinfection by a distinct\nstrain is also reduced due to cross-immunity. Individual based simulations of\nthis model on a `small-world\u0027 network show that the host contact network\nstructure significantly affects the outcome of such an invasion, and as a\nconsequence will affect the patterns of pathogen evolution. In particular, host\npopulations interacting through a \u0027small-world\u0027 network of contacts support\nlower prevalence of infection than well-mixed populations, and the region in\nparameter space for which an invading strain can become endemic and coexist\nwith the circulating strain is smaller, reducing the potential to accommodate\npathogen diversity. We discuss the underlying mechanisms for the reported\neffects, and we propose an effective mean-field model to account for the\ncontact structure of the host population in \u0027small-world\u0027 networks.",
"arxiv_id": "q-bio/0507013",
"authors": [
"A. Nunes",
"M. M. Telo da Gama",
"M. G. M. Gomes"
],
"categories": [
"q-bio.PE"
],
"title": "Does host contact structure reduce pathogen diversity?",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0507013"
},
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