The use of a formal sensitivity analysis on epidemic models with immune protection from maternally acquired antibodies

Abstract

This paper considers the outcome of a formal sensitivity analysis on a series of epidemic model structures developed to study the population level effects of maternal antibodies. The analysis is used to compare the potential influence of maternally acquired immunity on various age and time domain observations of infection and serology, with and without seasonality. The results of the analysis indicate that time series observations are largely insensitive to variations in the average duration of this protection, and that age related empirical data are likely to be most appropriate for estimating these characteristics.

Epidemiological modelling in infectious diseases: stages and classification

“…For this reason, a separate group stated as 'M' is added into modelling for passive immune newborn (Figure 2). When maternal antibodies move away from the body, individuals are included in 'S', that is susceptible group (34,35).…”

Complex Stability and an Irrevertible Transition Reverted by Peptide and Fibroblasts in a Dynamic Model of Innate Immunity

“…Parameter sensitivity analysis can then be used to establish how readily the network function becomes critical as a parameter is changed. In the context of immunology, sensitivity analysis has, for instance, been used to evaluate the influence of maternal adaptive immunity on the time dependence of infection and on its consequences for serology (44) to identify the relative importance of the molecular components in coupled MAPK and PI3K signal transduction pathways (45), for the NF-κB signaling network (46), in an immune-based model of Helicobacter pylori infection (47), and in analyzing the T cell response to antigen (48). An approach related to sensitivity analysis is metabolic control analysis, which is limited to sensitivities with respect to process activities (49)(50)(51).…”