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A novel cellular automata‐partial differential equation model for understanding chlamydial infection and ascension of the female genital tract
Author(s) -
Mallet Dann,
Heymer Kel,
Wilson David P.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pamm
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1617-7061
DOI - 10.1002/pamm.200700031
Subject(s) - chlamydia trachomatis , pelvic inflammatory disease , disease , infertility , chlamydia , genital tract , ectopic pregnancy , chlamydial infection , differential diagnosis , biology , medicine , immunology , pathology , gynecology , pregnancy , physiology , genetics
Chlamydia trachomatis is amongst the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and when left untreated, may lead to serious sequelae particularly in women such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Currently, most mathematical modelling in the literature regarding Chlamydia is based on time dependent differential equations. The serious pathology associated with C. trachomatis occurs when the chlamydial infection ascends to the upper genital tract. But no modelling study has investigated the important spatial aspects of the disease. In this work, we include spatiotemporal considerations of the progression of chlamydial infection in the genital tract. This novel direction is achieved using cellular automata modelling with probabilistic decision processes. In this presentation, the modelling strategy will be described, as well as its relationship with existing models and the advances in understanding that are achieved with such a model. Such an approach provides valuable insights into disease progression and will lead to experimentally testable predictions and a basis for further investigation in this area. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)