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.
Farkas
József Z
JZ
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK. jzf@maths.stir.ac.uk
Hinow
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D018448:Models, Immunological; D013559:Symbiosis; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000276:immunology*