Age-related changes to the immune system exacerbate the inflammatory response to pandemic H1N1 infection (Q2154542)

This paper studies age-related changes to the immune system exacerbate the inflammatory response to pandemic H1N1 infection. The model characterizes the time-dependent dynamics of the virus replication and clearance in both the upper and lower respiratory tract. The virus begins in both the upper and lower respiratory tract to ensure the virus reached both compartments. The virus is taken up by target healthy epithelial cells, producing a population of infected cells. Infected cells release additional free virus and sustain the virus population in the host. Free virus is eliminated from both the upper and lower compartments by nonspecific immune clearance, by internalization into epithelial cells, and by antibodies. The model is fit to experimental data from cynomolgus macaques infected with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain of influenza A virus.