Structured and unstructured continuous models for Wolbachia infections.
We introduce and investigate a series of models for an infection of a diplodiploid host species by the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. The continuous models are characterized by partial vertical transmission, cytoplasmic incompatibility and fitness costs associated with the infection. A particular aspect of interest is competitions between mutually incompatible strains. We further introduce an age-structured model that takes into account different fertility and mortality rates at different stages of the life cycle of the individuals. With only a few parameters, the ordinary differential equation models exhibit already interesting dynamics and can be used to predict criteria under which a strain of bacteria is able to invade a population. Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the age-structured model shows significant differences concerning the existence and stability of equilibrium solutions compared to the unstructured model.
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK. jzf@maths.stir.ac.uk
József Z
JZ
Farkas
Peter
P
Hinow
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013559:Symbiosis; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000276:immunology*