Open AccessTwo-sex epidemic spreading on bipartite scale-free networks
Author(s) -
Wen Li,
Yang Xiao,
Zhong Ping Jiang
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
wuli xuebao
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.199
H-Index - 47
ISSN - 1000-3290
DOI - 10.7498/aps.57.4794
Subject(s) - bipartite graph , scale (ratio) , topology (electrical circuits) , scale free network , infection rate , computer science , biology , epidemic model , network topology , complex network , statistical physics , mathematics , demography , physics , theoretical computer science , computer network , combinatorics , medicine , quantum mechanics , world wide web , population , sociology , graph , surgery
Applying the SIS (susceptible-infected-susceptible) model, we study the epidemic spreading on the web of human sexual contacts. When only heterosexual contacts are considered, the web is a bipartite scale-free network. By using the rate equation approach, we analyze the relation between epidemic threshold and infection rates of female-to-male and male-to-female. We find that the ratio of infected female density to infected male density is determined by the topology of the network and the proportion between infection rates of females and males. This demonstrates the importance of the topology of network. Finally, we present numerical simulation results that support the analytic results.