A Spatial Model For The Spread Of Influenza Within The Human Respiratory Tract

Several mathematical models with varying degrees of complexity are dedicated to charac-terizing influenza virus infection kinetics.  The majority of existing mathematical modelsof in-host kinetics are based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and do not in-corporate viral transport modes.  In this work, a spatial model was developed in orderto explore, for the first time, the effect of viral transport modesin-vivo:  diffusion andadvection.  Cellular regeneration and a simplified immune response were also included inthis model.  Although severe and chronic infections sometimes occur in humans, most ofthe existing models can only reproduce seasonal infections.  This new model has success-fully reproduced observed infection profiles within realistic biological parameters.  Thechanges in parameters required to shift the infection kinetics from a seasonal to a chronicinfection, for example, is consistent with the factors believed to be responsible for theestablishment of such infections.