Computational modelling of dynamics of viral attachment to mucus and epithelial cell surfaces

LiamYih

UBC, Institute of Applied Mathematics

"Computational modelling of dynamics of viral attachment to mucus and epithelial cell surfaces"

Inspired by the dynamics of Influenza A attachment to the epithelial cells of the upper respiratory tract, we are developing a dynamic biophysical model of virus attachment to cell surface receptors. Major challenges to modelling include modelling multiple ligands distributed across the viral surface, and developing a dynamic binding and unbinding model which incorporates forces applied to the ligand-receptor pair. In this presentation, I will describe some of these challenges and explain how our computational approach based on the principles of Steven Andrews SMOLDYN is being used to overcome them. I will also describe how we envisage using our framework to study practical questions about how viruses penetrate mucosal and ciliary layers in the upper respiratory tract, and how this framework can be extended to virus-like systems such as engineered nanoparticles for drug delivery.
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