Equation-free modelling of evolving diseases: coarse-grained computations with individual-based models

Authored by Simon A Levin, J Cisternas, CW Gear, IG Kisvrekidis

Date Published: 2004

DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2004.1300

Sponsors: AFOSR United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

We demonstrate how direct simulation of stochastic, individual-based models can be combined with continuum numerical-analysis techniques to study the dynamics of evolving diseases. Sidestepping the necessity of obtaining explicit population-level models, the approach analyses the (unavailable in closed form) `coarse' macroscopic equations, estimating the necessary, quantities through appropriately initialized short `bursts' of individual-based dynamic simulation. We illustrate this approach by analysing a stochastic and discrete model for the evolution of disease agents caused by point mutations within individual hosts. Building up from classical susceptible-infected-recovered and susceptible-infected-recovered-susceptible models, our example uses a one-dimensional lattice for variant space, and assumes a finite number of individuals. Macroscopic computational tasks enabled through this approach include stationary-state computation., coarse projective integration, parametric continuation and stability analysis.
Tags
Evolution time Differential-equations Bifurcation-analysis Molecular-dynamics Traveling-waves Optimal prediction Influenza-a drift Smooth landscape Quasi-continuum