Biomathematics Seminar Series - Oct. 1st

Speaker: Patrick Tchemp Djomengi, North-West University, South Africa

Title: Understanding infection dynamics and control through mathematical models incorporating non classical isolation and inflammatory response

Abstract: HIV/AIDS has significantly impacted labor force performance and productivity in low-income African countries, primarily due to increasing work absences, both authorized and unauthorized, for medical reasons. This phenomenon has adversely affected sectors such as agriculture, where the loss of labor supply and remittance income is particularly pronounced. The timing of worker absenteeism during critical periods, such as planting and harvesting, severely reduces agricultural yields. In this talk, we introduce a mathematical model designed to understand disease progression in this context and to explore strategies for optimizing workforce productivity and organizational performance. We also propose a class of "isolated workers" and examine their role in controlling the progression of the disease.
In the second part of the talk, we will discuss (if time allows) optimal strategies for limiting cell infection and viral production in a mathematical model for Covid-19 that incorporates the inflammatory response. The initial model, proposed by Mochan et al. (2021), was based on experiments conducted on Macaques and highlighted the critical role of the inflammatory response in combating viral proliferation, using information from pro-inflammatory mediators. This model captures the dynamics of infection in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. We will highlight the contribution of the latent period (the delay) to the spread of the infection.