Localized bacterial infection in a distributed model for tissue inflammation (Q792902)

A model for infammatory response to bacterial invasion of tissue is analyzed. The model, two simultaneous nonlinear partial differential equations for the bacterial density and phagocyte density, yields both uniform and nonuniform steady state solutions in a macroscopic tissue region. The non-uniform state allows large bacteria densities and in some cases greater total bacteria and phagocyte populations. A linear stability analysis shows that a phagocyte response smaller than a critical value can lead to a non-uniform state, while a greater response than this critical value stabilizes the uniform state. This analysis is sensitive to the values of the kinetic parameters. Non-uniform states can arise most easily for those sets of parameters which would yield a low uniform density inflammation. Non-uniform states also arise readily when the invading bacteria are relatively immotile. The transient inflammatory response to a bacterial invasion is considered via numerical examples of solutions to the model equations using parameter values estimated from the experimental literature where possible. Of chief concern is whether a non-uniform steady state is attained. Parameter values used might correspond to those for a low growth rate, resistive to destruction by macrophages and leukocytes, of bacteria (such as the tubercule bacilli).