Robustness and bistability in a cytokine-enhanced viral infection model

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate a cytokine-enhanced model of virus infection. This model of viral infection was also characterized by impaired immune function or immunosuppression. By analyzing this model, we can determine the effect of inflammatory cytokines on it. When control of inflammatory cytokines is lost, the elite control threshold n∗∗ increases, making it more difficult to control the virus. Under certain conditions, the model exhibits saddle–node bifurcation and forward/backward bifurcation. We consider the robustness of the system as the difficulty of the virus to rebound. When inflammatory cytokines are out of control, the virus is more likely to rebound.