Optimal growth schedule of pathogens within a host: Switching between lytic and latent cycles (Q805532)

The following control problem is considered: Let N be the number of pathogens in a host, \(u>0\) and bN\(\geq 0\) the natural and disease-induced mortality of the host, respectively, and f(N) the rate of pathogen transmissions to other hosts which is assumed to increase with N. Furthermore, let \(\Phi\) be the total number of transmissions from an infected host (\(\Phi\) is expressed as the transmission rate f(N(t)) times the survival probability, summed over the whole life of the infected host). Finally, N is assumed to satisfy the growth equation \(dN/dt=r(t)N\) with the time dependent growth rate r(t) being bounded by some maximum rate R. The problem is to choose the growth rate in such a way that \(\Phi\) is at a maximum. The optimal growth schedule is first derived for the case where u is constant over time. The authors then examine the effect of host aging on the optimal growth schedule as well as vertical transmission effects (e.g. transmissions from an infected parent to his offspring). Finally the Nash equilibrium schedule of pathogenic growth in the presence of multiple infections is studied.