A general method for multiscale modelling of vector-borne disease systems

Winston Garira, Faraimunashe Chirove

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The inability to develop multiscale models which can describe vector-borne disease systems in terms of the complete pathogen life cycle which represents multiple targets for control has hindered progress in our efforts to control, eliminate and even eradicate these multi-host infections. This is because it is currently not easy to determine precisely where and how in the life cycles of vector-borne disease systems the key constrains which are regarded as crucial in regulating pathogen population dynamics in both the vertebrate host and vector host operate. In this article, we present a general method for development of multiscale models of vector-borne disease systems which integrate the within-host and between-host scales for the two hosts (a vertebrate host and a vector host) that are implicated in vector-borne disease dynamics. The general multiscale modelling method is an extension of our previous work on multiscale models of infectious disease systems which established a basic science and accompanying theory of how pathogen population dynamics at within-host scale scales up to between-host scale and in turn how it scales down from between-host scale to within-host scale. Further, the general method is applied to multiscale modelling of human onchocerciasis-a vector-borne disease system which is sometimes called river blindness as a case study.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20190047
JournalInterface Focus
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 Feb 2020

Keywords

  • Community pathogen load
  • Immuno-epidemiological models
  • Linking
  • Multiscale modelling of human onchocerciasis
  • Multiscale models of disease systems
  • Multiscale models of vector-borne diseases
  • Within-host and between-host scale models

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biophysics
  • Bioengineering
  • Biochemistry
  • Biomaterials
  • Biomedical Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A general method for multiscale modelling of vector-borne disease systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this