Leveraging Computational Modeling to Understand Infectious Diseases

We present advances in modeling techniques that have led to fundamental disease discoveries and impacted clinical translation.Recent FindingsCombining mechanistic models and machine learning algorithms has led to improvements in the treatment ofShigella and tuberculosis through the development of novel compounds. Modeling of the epidemic dynamics of malaria at the within-host and between-host level has afforded the development of more effective vaccination and antimalarial therapies. Similarly, in-host and host-host models have supported the development of new HIV treatment modalities and an improved understanding of the immune involvement in influenza. In addition, large-scale transmission models of SARS-CoV-2 have furthered the understanding of coronavirus disease and allowed for rapid policy implementations on travel restrictions and contract tracing apps.SummaryComputational modeling is now more than ever at the forefront of infectious disease research due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This review highlights how infectious diseases can be better understood by connecting scientists from medicine and molecular biology with those in computer science and applied mathematics.
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research