Speakers
Description
Within host mathematical modelling has become central to understanding the complex, multiscale biology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. This talk will synthesise the major modelling frameworks that have shaped the field, from early ordinary differential equation models to agent based, hybrid, and multiscale approaches linking molecular to systemic processes. We highlight core assumptions, data sources, and the mechanistic insights they offer into host-pathogen interactions, immune dynamics, lesion heterogeneity, and treatment response. We highlight rapidly developing areas including omics-driven personalisation, systems pharmacology integration, virtual clinical trials for regimen optimisation, and modelling of clinically relevant coinfections and comorbidities such as HIV and diabetes. To provide a unified synthesis across this diverse landscape, we present quantitative thematic heatmaps that map modelling approaches to the biological and clinical questions they address. We conclude by identifying key open challenges and outline emerging directions that position within-host modelling as a cornerstone for precision therapy and global tuberculosis control.
