A mathematical model to describe antibody-dependent enhancement and assess the effect of limiting cloning for plasma cells in heterologous secondary dengue infection.

Abstract

We propose a mathematical model to study the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) phenomenon. Here, we explore the interaction between macrophages, dengue virus and plasma cells, especially the effect of a limitation on plasma cell proliferation, which occurs due to immunological memory. The model has up to three equilibrium points: one virus-free equilibrium and two virus-presence equilibrium, depending on the value of two thresholds. We determine the existence regions for the model equilibrium points and their stability, a sensitivity analysis was performed in the model thresholds. Numerical simulations illustrate that ADE can occur even when the basic reproduction number is less than one.