NR AXBM
AU Greer,M.L.; Pujo-Menjouet,L.; Webb,G.F.
TI A mathematical analysis of the dynamics of prion proliferation
QU Journal of Theoretical Biology 2006 Oct 7; 242(3): 598-606
PT journal article
AB How do the normal prion protein (PrPc) and infectious prion protein (PrPsc) populations interact in an infected host? To answer this question, we analyse the behavior of the two populations by studying a system of differential equations. The system is constructed under the assumption that PrPsc proliferates using the mechanism of nucleated polymerization. We prove that with parameter input consistent with experimentally determined values, we obtain the persistence of PrPsc. We also prove local stability results for the disease steady state, and a global stability result for the disease free steady state. Finally, we give numerical simulations, which are confirmed by experimental data.
MH Amino Acid Substitution; Animals; Brain/*metabolism; *Computer Simulation; Disease Progression; Humans; Models, Biological; *Models, Chemical; Polymers; PrPc Proteins/chemistry; PrPsc Proteins/chemistry; Prion Diseases/*metabolism/transmission; Prions/*chemistry; Protein Conformation
AD Department of Mathematics, Bates College, 213 Hathorn Hall Bates College, Lewiston, Maine 04240, USA. mgreer@bates.edu
SP englisch
PO Niederlande