Mathematical analysis of intrahost spread and control of Dengue Virus: Unraveling the crucial role of antigenic immunity

Abstract

Studying viral infections within the host is crucial for understanding healthy cell responses and immunity. This research employed a reaction-diffusion Caputo fractional order model and a modified homotopy perturbation method to explore how immune cell memory and mobility affect the dynamic interactions of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte cells (CTLs), B-cell antibodies, uninfected monocytes, infected monocytes, and Dengue Virus (DENV) particle concentration within the host. The model guaranteed a positive solution, with the existence and uniqueness of the solution assured by the Banach fixed point theorem and a general stability supported by the Hyers-Ulam theorem. Sensitivity analysis highlighted that the DENV invasion rate speeds the spread of infected cells, while simulation results and fractional order analysis revealed that cell-mediated memory from past exposure will enhance the activation of CTLs and B-cell antibodies to strengthen immunity against dengue virus.