A SIMPL model of phage-bacteria interactions accounting for mutation and competition

Authors

  • Carli Peterson Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Darsh Gandhi Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Austin Carlson Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Aaron Lubkemann Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Emma Richardson Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • John Serralta Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA
  • Michael S. Allen Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, The University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, USA
  • Souvik Roy Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Christopher M. Kribs Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA
  • Hristo V. Kojouharov* Department of Mathematics, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, USA

Keywords:

pseudomonas aeruginosa, optical density, bacterial dynamics, bacterial debris, non-isolated equilibria, parameter fitting, optimization

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistically pathogenic bacteria that causes fatal infections and outbreaks in hospital environments. Due to the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, the need for alternative therapies is critical. Bacteriophage therapy is emerging as a promising approach; however, it remains unapproved for clinical use and is hindered by limited understanding of the complex interactions between bacterial cells and phage virions. Mathematical models provide insight into these interactions. Through a system of ordinary differential equations, we determined necessary biological assumptions to effectively capture the dynamics observed between susceptible, infected, and mutated bacterial cells and bacteriophage virions in a microwell setting. Data fitting based on this model produced a set of parameter estimates unique to our experimental observations of a specific phage and P. aeruginosa strain. In translating observed optical density readings into bacterial concentrations, we also found that bacterial debris has a significant impact on optical density, with a lysed bacterium contributing roughly 31% as much to optical density readings as a living cell.

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Published

2025-04-24

Issue

Section

Conference Contributions