Analysis and computation of multi-pathways and multi-delays HIV-1 infection model

Abstract

In-host HIV-1 infection models generally consider cell-free single pathway dissemination of disease. Recent experimental studies, however, confirm that virological synapses, where virus spreads from one infected cell to another susceptible cell, is a more competent mode of disease transmission. This paper deals with a multi-pathways HIV-1 infection model that considers both modes of disease transmission and two intracellular delays. We present some global and local stability results of equilibrium points with respect to two important system parameters determined through PRCC (Partial Rank Correlation Coefficients) analysis. Our analytical and computational results show that the system exhibits different switching phenomena even in absence of delays. Either delay further complicates the switching phenomena. These results can explain the reason of intra- and inter-patients variability as well as similarity in CD4+ T cells and virus particle counts in blood plasma of HIV patients.