Transcript Integrated Modeling and Analysis of within

NIMBioS Investigative Workshop
• May 13-15, 2010
• Goal: to explore mathematical problems and
modeling and analysis tools in describing the
life cycle, stage conversion, and clonal
expansion of Toxoplasma gondii
• 45 participants
• Organizers: Su, Lenhart, Langlais, Dubey, Joo,
Zhao
Selected Highlights
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Very productive (88%)
Met expectations (91%)
Presentations useful (100%)
Group discussions useful (88%)
Improved understanding of ongoing research
in other disciplines regarding T. gondii (100%)
NIMBioS Evaluation Report, Pamela Bishop
Participant Demographics
• Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Mexico,
Nigeria, and US (16 states)
• Demographics
– business/industry employees (3%),
– college/university faculty or staff (45%),
– graduate students (23%),
– government employees (7%),
– non-profit employees (2%)
– postdoctoral researchers (13%)
Summary and Recommendation
• Robust transmission mechanisms due to its complex
epidemic network
• Stabilities and epidemic characteristics of different life
cycles; evolutionary advantages of complex life cycles
versus simple life cycles.
• Host-pathogen interactions of in vitro and in vivo T.
gondii infection; different strain types; delicate balance
between T. gondii invasion dynamics and host immune
response.
• Multiscale models; integrating within-host dynamics
with transmission dynamics
• Working group on dynamic modeling of toxoplasmosis
NIMBioS Working Group
Integrated Modeling and Analysis of
within-host Infection and between-host
Transmission for Toxoplasma gondii
Multiscale Modeling of the Life Cycle
of Toxoplasma gondii
3/4 meetings in 2011—2013
Organizers: Feng, Mordue, Su, Zhao
Objectives
1. develop a mathematical framework to
understand within-host infection dynamics
2. explore new mathematical models to
investigate the characteristics of the complex
transmission pathways of T. gondii
3. integrate within-host and between-host
models to understand the influences of
various properties of the parasites on their
genetic diversities and bio-geographic patterns
4. other important problems identified by the
working group
Suggested Topics
• Population dynamics (using different approaches,
ode, agent based modeling, stochastic modeling)
• Multi-patch interactions
• Evolutionary dynamics
• Linking between and within host dynamics
• Stage conversion and cell cycle
• Immune response
• Multiscale modeling and analysis
• Control (vaccine, human factors, drug, natural
interaction)
Agenda
• Flexible agenda
• Suggested schedule
• Other relevant presentations