A within-host model on the interaction dynamics between innate immune cells and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón; M. Victoria Otero-Espinar; Miller Cerón Gómez; Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón; M. Victoria Otero-Espinar; Miller Cerón Gómez

doi:10.3934/mbe.2025019

Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering

2025, Volume 22, Issue 3: 511-527. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2025019

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A within-host model on the interaction dynamics between innate immune cells and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1.
Departamento de Matemáticas y Estadística, Universidad de Nariño, Pasto 520002, Colombia
2.
Grupo de Investigación en Biología Matemática y Matemática Aplicada (GIBIMMA), Universidad de Nariño, C.U. Torobajo, Pasto 520002, Colombia
3.
Statistics, Mathematical Analysis and Optimisation Department, Faculty of Mathematics, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), and Galician Center for Mathematical Research and Technology (CITMAga), Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain

Received: 19 November 2024 Revised: 10 February 2025 Accepted: 12 February 2025 Published: 17 February 2025

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent; it has also been declared a threat to humanity by the World Health Organization. New insights indicate that the innate immune response plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of the infection. In this study, we assessed the role of macrophages in the innate immune response through a simple mathematical model. Our results confirm that macrophages provide the primary protective response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, they also highlight the importance of other innate cells in the outcome of infection. Specifically, our findings suggest that, in addition to macrophage activity, the involvement of other innate immune cells is essential for eliminating or controlling bacterial progression, ultimately leading to an adaptive immune response.
- tuberculosis,
- innate immune response,
- within-host model,
- ordinary differential equation,
- qualitative analysis,
- normalized sensitivity index
Citation: Eduardo Ibargüen-Mondragón, M. Victoria Otero-Espinar, Miller Cerón Gómez. A within-host model on the interaction dynamics between innate immune cells and Mycobacterium tuberculosis[J]. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 2025, 22(3): 511-527. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2025019

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Abstract

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent; it has also been declared a threat to humanity by the World Health Organization. New insights indicate that the innate immune response plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of the infection. In this study, we assessed the role of macrophages in the innate immune response through a simple mathematical model. Our results confirm that macrophages provide the primary protective response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, they also highlight the importance of other innate cells in the outcome of infection. Specifically, our findings suggest that, in addition to macrophage activity, the involvement of other innate immune cells is essential for eliminating or controlling bacterial progression, ultimately leading to an adaptive immune response.

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