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Spatial heterogeneity and diffusion-driven dynamics of HCV infection: A mathematical modeling framework

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  • Rao, Feng
  • Xue, Dandan
  • Wei, Shufen
  • Liu, Rui

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the body includes not only virus-to-cell infection, but also cell-to-cell infection. This infection will stimulate the body to produce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response and antibody immune response. In this paper, we study the disease dynamics of two kinds of infection and two kinds of immune models, which include spatial diffusion and heterogeneity of internal environment, and further explore the influence of spatial heterogeneity on the extinction and persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV). We defined the basic reproduction number, deduced the corresponding expression of the basic reproduction number R0, and proved that the basic reproduction number R0 can be used as the threshold of whether the virus exists or not. That is, if the basic reproduction number R0<1, the disease-free balance is globally stable and HCV is extinct; if the basic reproduction number R0>1, there is at least one local equilibrium, and HCV will persist. Furthermore, we performed numerical simulations to investigate how spatial diffusion and heterogeneity affect disease dynamics. Combining theoretical analysis with numerical simulations, our findings reveal that spatial heterogeneity can increase the risk of viral infection within the host. However, the mobility of infected cells and viruses may serve to diminish these risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Rao, Feng & Xue, Dandan & Wei, Shufen & Liu, Rui, 2026. "Spatial heterogeneity and diffusion-driven dynamics of HCV infection: A mathematical modeling framework," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 241(PA), pages 727-753.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:matcom:v:241:y:2026:i:pa:p:727-753
    DOI: 10.1016/j.matcom.2025.09.028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Qi, Ke & Liu, Zhijun & Wang, Lianwen & Chen, Yuming, 2023. "Global dynamics of a diffusive SEICR HCV model with nonlinear incidences," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 181-197.
    2. Narendra M. Dixit & Jennifer E. Layden-Almer & Thomas J. Layden & Alan S. Perelson, 2004. "Modelling how ribavirin improves interferon response rates in hepatitis C virus infection," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7019), pages 922-924, December.
    3. Pan, Sonjoy & Chakrabarty, Siddhartha P., 2022. "Analysis of a reaction–diffusion HCV model with general cell-to-cell incidence function incorporating B cell activation and cure rate," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 431-450.
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