title: Time-delayed model of immune response in plants.
abstract: In the studies of plant infections, the plant immune response is known to play an essential role. In this paper we derive and analyse a new mathematical model of plant immune response with particular account for post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). Besides biologically accurate representation of the PTGS dynamics, the model explicitly includes two time delays to represent the maturation time of the growing plant tissue and the non-instantaneous nature of the PTGS. Through analytical and numerical analysis of stability of the steady states of the model we identify parameter regions associated with recovery and resistant phenotypes, as well as possible chronic infections. Dynamics of the system in these regimes is illustrated by numerical simulations of the model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neofytou
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
authors.forename: Y N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kyrychko
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK. Electronic address: k.blyuss@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Blyuss
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010641:Phenotype; D063245:Plant Development; D057865:Plant Immunity; D010944:Plants / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D034622:RNA Interference; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Mathematical model; Plant immune system; Post-transcriptional gene silencing; Time delays