Parasite - antibody competition in Chagas disease

C. A. CONDAT; S. COSSY ISASI; G. J. SIBONA

Comments on Theoretical Biology

Año: 2003 vol. 8 p. 587 - 607

A simple model for the parasite-antibody interaction that predicts all possible outcomes (healing, death, and chronic infection with both stationary and quasi-cyclic parasite populations) of the humoral reaction to Chagas infection is discussed. The model allows for the analysis of various interesting situations, such as the action of parasite-shed decoys, the possibility of delays in the immune reaction, and the effects of immune system ??learning??. The influence of various parameters is examined by the use of phase portraits that exhibit the evolution of the various populations. Comparison is made with available data, showing very good agreement. The implications of the model on the current discussion about the nature of Chagas disease are commented on.