2014 SRE Project

Mathematical Modeling of Granuloma Formation in Johne's Disease

Mentors:
Dr. Shigetoshi Eda
Dr. Vitaly Ganusov

Johne's disease is caused by infection of animal intestinal tissues with a bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). MAP infection results in formation of granulomas in the tissue but the mechanisms controlling the dynamics of such granulomas are largely unknown. We have generated novel experimental data in which we observe formation of such MAP-containing granulomas in culture depending on the initial density of MAP and MAP-controlling cells. In this project we will develop novel mathematical models of the formation and growth of MAP-containing granulomas, compare model predictions to experimental data, and generate novel insights into mechanisms that lead to bacterial containment and clearance.

Student participants, from left: Winode Handagama, Biochemistry, Maryville College; Margaret McDaniel, Biochemistry Cellular & Molecular Biology/Mathematicsk UT-Knoxville; Nitin Krishna, Mathematics, University of Chicago

Products

Abstract of project report (PDF)

Publication: McDaniel MM, Krishna N, Handagama WG, Eda S, Ganusov VV. 2016. Quantifying limits on replication of death, and quiescence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice. Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00862 [Online]

Return to SRE 2014.

NIMBioS
1122 Volunteer Blvd., Suite 106
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3410
PH: (865) 974-9334
FAX: (865) 974-9461
Contact NIMBioS

From 2008 until early 2021, NIMBioS was supported by the National Science Foundation through NSF Award #DBI-1300426, with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.