The applied mathematics researchers are using in silico experiments to replicate in great detail how the human immune system responds to the novel coronavirus. This refers to trials carried out via computer simulations, rather than in vitro or in vivo experiments situated in test tubes or in living organisms; in silico trials are a complement to these real-world trials.
“It’s not that in silico trials should replace clinical trials,” said Professor Anita Layton, who holds a chair in mathematical biology and medicine. “A model is a simplification, but it can help us whittle down the drugs for clinical trials. Clinical trials are expensive and can cost human lives. Using models helps narrow the drug candidates to the ones that are best for safety and efficacy.”
Their model describes the control of a coronavirus infection by the innate and adaptive immune components at the cellular level. Invasion by the virus triggers innate immunity, through which the...