A mathematical model and simulation scenarios for T and B cells immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus is a type 2 highly contagious, and transmissible among humans; the natural human immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 combines cell-mediated immunity (lymphocyte) and antibody production. In the present study, we analyzed the dynamic effects of adaptive immune system cell activation in the human host. The methodology consisted of modeling using a system of ordinary differential equations; for this model, the equilibrium free of viral infection was obtained, and its local stability was determined. Analysis of the model revealed that lymphocyte activation leads to total pathogen elimination by specific recognition of viral antigens; the model dynamics are driven by the interaction between respiratory epithelial cells, viral infection, and activation of helper T, cytotoxic T, and B lymphocytes. Numerical simulations showed that the model solutions match the dynamics involved in the role of lymphocytes in preventing new infections and stopping the viral spread; these results reinforce the understanding of the cellular immune mechanisms and processes of the organism against severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection, allowing the understanding of biophysical processes that occur in living systems, dealing with the exchange of information at the cellular level.