A mathematical model for treatment-resistant mutations of HIV

Abstract

In this paper, we propose and analyze a mathematical model, in the form of a system of ordinary differential equations, governing mutated strains of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their interactions with the immune system and treatments. Our model incorporates two types of resistant mutations: strains that are not responsive to protease inhibitors, and strains that are not responsive to reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It also includes strains that do not have either of these two types of resistance (wild- type virus) and strains that have both types. We perform our analysis by changing the system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to a simple single-variable ODE, then identifying equilibria and determining stability. We carry out numerical calculations that illustrate the behavior of the system. We also examine the effects of various treatment regimens on the development of treatment-resistant mutations of HIV in this model.