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|  |  Amber M. Smith |
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Amber M. Smith
Theoretical Biology and Biophysics
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Phone: 505-665-4662
e-mail:asmith@lanl.gov
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Research Interests
Mathematical Modeling of Influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae Infections
Influenza and pneumonia, particularly from a secondary bacterial infection with S. pneumoniae, are the leading infectious diseases causing death in all persons in the United States.
Several aspects of influenza and pneumococcus kinetics, including pathogen growth, decay and interplay with host immune responses, are not well understood. The purpose of our work is to
use mathematical models as a tool for studying the complex dynamics of influenza A virus, pneumococcus, and coinfection with these two pathogens within a host.
- Using differential equation models and techniques, we determine how parameters of a simple influenza model relates to the slopes of exponential rise and fall of virus.
Expressions for the rate and length of initial viral growth, the parameters involved in viral peaks, and the parameter most responsible for virus decay are found with approximate
solutions.
- We investigate the actions of the viral accessory protein PB1-F2 by experimentally infecting mice with two strains of influenza that vary in this protein. Using lung titer data
and a mathematical model to estimate parameters, we compare these viruses and suggest that the rates of virus clearance and infected cell death are altered with expression of the 1918
PB1-F2.
- We obtain bacteria lung titers from a similar experimental system for a pneumococcal lung infection that is used to guide model development of a three-stage cellular immune
response. Our model produces a dosage threshold such that both colonization and eventual outcome are dependent on initial dose.
- These two infections motivate us to pursue development of a model describing the lethal synergism between influenza and pneumococcus. In particular, we combine models
of each infection and include terms describing their interaction within a host to examine proposed mechanisms.
Collaborators:
Affiliations:
| Publications
- A.M. Smith and R.M. Ribeiro (2009). Modeling the Viral Dynamics of Influenza A Virus Infection. Crit Rev Immunol (accepted).
| Teaching at the University of Utah (2003-2009)
| Other Links
Mathematical Biology at Utah
Adler Lab
Presentations in LaTeX: the Beamer
class
Colorado School of Mines
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