Speaker
Description
Understanding the mechanisms underlying post-therapy control of simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) is critical for the development of functional cure strategies. In this study, we develop viral kinetic models and validate them using viral load data from four cohorts of SHIV-infected nonhuman primates: untreated controls, animals receiving HuAd5 SIV Gag/Tat vaccination, animals treated with antibody therapy, and animals receiving combination therapy. Each model is fitted to longitudinal viral load measurements to quantify how different interventions alter viral dynamics. Using bifurcation analysis and numerical simulations, we identify parameter regimes in which therapy drives viral loads below the limit of detection. Furthermore, we characterize the conditions that enable sustained viral control after cessation or waning of immune-based interventions.
