Published: 21 June 2021

Lyapunov approach and global stability of Ebola virus infection model of an individual cells population

Nurudeen Oluwasola Lasisi1
1Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Nigeria
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Abstract

Ebola virus is among the most dangerous and devastating threats to human health, causing a large number of fatalities. In this paper, a mathematical modelling for the dynamics of Ebola virus infectious of an individual is presented as a system of nonlinear differential equations. The model has two equilibrium states namely, virus free equilibrium (VFE) and virus persistence equilibrium (VPE) states. The Effective reproduction number was obtained. The conditions under which the virus-free-equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable with the approach of linear Lyapunov function are shown when the effective reproduction numbers is less than unity. The nonlinear Lyapunov approach is employed to show the global stability of the endemic equilibrium only when the effective reproduction number is greater than unity. It was found that VFE is globally asymptotically stable if effective reproduction numbers is less than unity and VPE is globally asymptotically stable if M<N, otherwise unstable if M>N.

Highlights

  • The virus free equilibrium (VFE), virus persistence equilibrium (VPE) and effective reproduction number of the model were obtained.
  • The conditions under which the virus-free-equilibrium was globally asymptotically stable when the effective reproduction numbers less than unity.
  • The global stability of the virus persistence equilibrium (VPE) was shown and we found that VPE is globally asymptotically stable if M < N, otherwise unstable if M > N.

1. Introduction

The virus is known to cause damage to large variety of cell types including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and several types of epithelial cells. The primary targets of the virus are dendritic, monocytes and macrophage cells [1]. Meanwhile, macrophages are found in many organs such as; lungs, brain, liver, and kidney [1, 3]. The dendritic cells alert the body for any foreign antigen and also serve as potent Antigen Presenting Cells (APC) that capture foreign antigen for uptake and processing to target secondary lymphoid tissues for the simulation of T-cell and B-cells [4]. Macrophages are susceptible to the virus [3], macrophages encounter APC and release a protein called interlenkin-1 (IL-1) that acts as a chemical alarm signal; Helper T-cells respond to interlekin-1 and release interlenkin-2 (IL-2) by simultaneously initiating two parallel lines of immune system defense: the cell-mediated response carried out by T-cells, and humoral response carried out by B-cells [5].

The incubation period of Ebola virus ranges from 2 to 21 days and infectious period ranges from 4 to 10 days [6]. Meanwhile, it takes an approximation of 31 days to quarantine a patient under investigation of the Ebola virus. Consequently, the symptoms of the Ebola virus are characterized by headaches, fever, vomiting, bleeding diarrhoea, and rash [7] in infected person, severe bleeding and shock are usually followed by death [1]. The spread of the virus and eventual death of infected patients was largely contained (reduced) through early detection and effective contact tracing [8]. More so, Mathematical models have played an essential role to study the dynamics of infectious disease [9]. The aim of this paper is to analysis Lyapunov function and global stability of Ebola virus infection model.

2. Model description

The model equations are formulated using ordinary differential equations. We extend the work of [10] by incorporating double immune response, booster parameters and effectiveness of drug administration. Ut represents the number of individual cell not yet infected with Ebola virus at time t. It denotes the number of individual cell who have being infected with the Ebola virus and it is capable of producing more viruses and spreading it to uninfected cells. Vt is the compartment for free virus being produced from the infected cells. Tt is the class denotes the number of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte that destroy infected cells. Bt is the antibody immunity that neutralized the free virus in the cell population. The transfer rates between the sub-classes are collection of several epidemiological parameters. The uninfected cell population increase by production rate β and having death rate μ1. When a free virus infect the Ut population and produced infected cells at rate α and with death rate μ2. Infected cells move to free virus class at rate ω and free virus die at rate μ3. Tt population increase at rate γ, kill infected cells at rate δ1 and die at rate μ4. Bt class produced at rate θ, neutralized the free virus at rate δ2 and μ5 is the death rate of Bt. We let ϕ be a measure of the effectiveness of the drug in blocking production of infected cells, this affect the dynamics of infected cells directly and viruses indirectly. The effect of ϕ is to reduce the production of infected cells, meanwhile, the range of effectiveness of drug usage is 0ϕ1. Then if ϕ=1 it is completely effective and prevents all production of infected cells, while ϕ=0 it implies that there is no drug and control intervention against the Ebola virus infection, the booster rates for both Tt and Bt are k1 and k2 respectively.

Fig. 1Schematic diagram of Ebola virus model with effectiveness of drug usage

Schematic diagram of Ebola virus model with effectiveness of drug usage

Based on the above schematic representation and assumptions of the models, the equations governing the dynamics of the Ebola virus in human cell population are given as:

1
dUdt=β-μ1U-1-ϕαUV,
2
dIdt=1-ϕαUV-μ2I-δ1IT,
3
dVdt=ωI-μ3V-δ2BV,
4
dTdt=k1T+γIT-μ4T,
5
dBdt=k2B+θBV-μ5B.

3. Equilibrium state of the model equations

At equilibrium state, we let:

6
dUdt=dIdt=dVdt=dTdt=dBdt=0.

This implies:

7
β-μ1U*-(1-ϕ)αU*V*=0,
8
(1-ϕ)αU*V*-μ2I*-δ1I*T*=0,
9
ωI*-μ3V*-δ2B*V*=0,
10
k1T*+γI*T*-μ4T*=0,
11
k2B*+θB*V*-μ5B*=0.

Solution of Eq. (9) is setting as:

12
V*=ωI*μ3+δ2B*.

Substitution of Eq. (12) into Eq. (8) is given by:

13
I*=0.

Or:

14
(1-ϕ)αωU*μ3+δ2B-μ2-δ1T*=0.

Substitution of Eq. (13) into Eq. (12) is given by:

15
V*=0.

Substitution of Eq. (15) into Eq. (7) is given by:

16
U*=βμ1.

Eq. (10) yields:

17
T*=0.

Or:

18
I*=μ4-k1γ.

Eq. (11) yields:

19
B*=0.

Or:

20
V*=μ5-k2θ.

Therefore, virus free equilibrium (VFE) denoted as:

21
E0=U0,I0,V0,T0,B0=βμ1,0,0,0,0.

4. Effective reproductive number, Re

To derive the effective reproductive number of model (1-5), we first introduce the method of next generation matrix formulated by [11]. Assume the population is divided into n compartments with m<n, infected compartments. Let x=(x1,x2,...,xn)T, where xi(t), i=1,2,...,m<n is the number of individuals in the ith infected compartment at time t. Both F(x) and V(x) are obtained from the model Eq. (1-5) of the virus free equilibrium (VFE). Therefore, we have the following:

22
F=0(1-ϕ)αU0ω0,
23
V=μ2+δ1T000μ3+δ2B0,
24
FV-1=0(1-ϕ)αβμ1(μ3+δ2B0)ω(μ2+δ1T0)0.

The characteristics equation of Eq. (24) is setting as:

25
(FV-1)-λ=-λ(1-ϕ)αβμ1(μ3+δ2B0)ω(μ2+δ1T0)-λ=0.

Determinant of Eq. (25) yields:

26
λ=±ω(1-ϕ)αβ(μ2+δ1T0)μ1(μ3+δ2B0).

Re is the largest eigenvalue which is spectral radius of e(FV-1). Therefore, the effective reproductive number is given by:

27
Re=ω(1-ϕ)αβ(μ2+δ1T0)μ1(μ3+δ2B0).

The Eq. (27) is the effective reproductive number of the system Eqs. (1-5).

5. Global stability of virus free equilibrium (E0)

We used Lyapunov function to investigate the stability of the virus free equilibrium,

Theorem 1: The Virus Free Equilibrium, E0 of Eqs. (1-5) is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) if Re1.

Proof: To establish the global stability of the virus free equilibrium, we select the infected classes for construction of Lyapunov function. We have:

28
LI,V=μ3+δ2BI+1-αUV,

as a good candidate for a Lyapunov function and must satisfied:

29
dLtI,V0, Re1.

We take derivative of Eq. (28) yields:

30
dLdtI,V=μ3+δ2BdIdt+1-αUdVdt.

We substitute Eq. (2) and Eq. (3) into Eq. (30) and get:

31
dLdtI,V=(1-)αUVμ3+δ2B-(1-)αUμ3V+δ2BV
+-μ2-δ1Tμ3+δ2B+1-αUωI.

Eq. (31) reduced to:

32
dLdtI,V=1-αU0ω-μ2+δ1T0μ3+δ2B0I.

At the virus-free equilibrium state, Eq. (32) yields:

33
dLdtI,V=1-αβωμ1-μ2+δ1T0μ3+δ2B0I.

From Eq. (33), we have:

34
dLdtI,V=μ2+δ1T0μ3+δ2B0IRe2-1.

Hence, yields

35
dLdtI,V0, Re21, Re1.

The virus-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) if Re1.

6. Virus persistence equilibrium (VPE)

Let:

36
E1=U,I,V,T,B=U**,I**,V**,T**,B**.

From Eq. (36), Eqs. (1-5) becomes:

37
β-μ1U**-(1-ϕ)αU**V**=0,
38
(1-ϕ)αU**V**-μ2I**-δ1I**T**=0,
39
ωI**-μ3V**-δ2B**V**=0,
40
k1T**+γI**T**-μ4T**=0,
41
k2B**+θB**V**-μ5B**=0.

Substitute Eq. (20) into Eq. (37) and we have:

42
U**=βθθμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2).

Substitute Eqs. (18), (20) and (42) into Eq. (38) and we have:

43
T**=αγβ(1-ϕ)(μ5-k2)-μ2(μ4-k1)(θμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2))(δ1(μ4-k1)(θμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2)).

Substitute Eqs. (18) and (20) into Eq. (39), we get:

44
B**=ωθ(μ4-k1)-γμ3(μ5-k2)δ2γ(μ5-k2).

Therefore, virus persistence equilibrium (VPE) denoted as:

45
E1=U**, I**, V**, T**, B**=βθθμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2)μ4-k1γμ5-k2θαγβ(1-ϕ)(μ5-k2)-μ2(μ4-k1)(θμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2))(δ1(μ4-k1)(θμ1+(1-ϕ)α(μ5-k2))ωθ(μ4-k1)-γμ3(μ5-k2)δ2γ(μ5-k2).

7. Global stability of virus persistence equilibrium, E1

Theorem 2: The VPE of the model equations is globally asymptotically stable (GAS) if Re1.

Proof:

The Lyapunov function L=(U,I,V,T,B) is defined as:

46
L=U-U*InU+I-I*InI+V-V*InV+T-T*InT+B-B*InB.

The differentiation of Eq. (46) yields:

47
dLdt=U-U*UdUdt+I-I*IdIdt+V-V*VdVdt+T-T*TdTdt+B-B*BdBdt.

Eq. (47) yields:

48
dLdt=(U-U*U)(β-μ1U-(1-ϕ)αUV)+I-I*I1-ϕαUV-μ2I-δ1IT
+V-V*VωI-μ3V-δ2BV+T-T*Tk1T+γIT-μ4T+B-B*Bk2B+θBV-μ5B.

At endemic states, we let:

49
β=μ1U*+1-ϕαU*V*,
50
α=μ2I*+δ1I*T*(1-ϕ)αU*V*,
51
ω=μ3V*+δ2B*V*I*,
52
k1=μ4T*-γI*T*T*,
53
k2=μ5B*-θB*V*B*.

Substitute Eqs. (49-53) into Eq. (48), we get:

54
dLdt=U-U*U(μ1U*+(1-ϕ)αU*V*-μ1U-(1-ϕ)αUV) +I-I*I1-ϕUVμ2I*+δ1I*T*1-ϕαU*V*-μ2I-δ1IT +V-V*Vμ3V*+δ2B*V*I*I-μ3V-δ2BV +T-T*Tμ4T*-γI*T*T*T+γIT-μ4T +B-B*Bμ5B*-θB*V*B*B+θBV-μ5B.

Implies:

55
dLdt=U-U*Uμ1U*-μ1U+1-ϕαU*V*-1-ϕαUV +I-I*IUVμ2I*+δ1I*T*U*V*-μ2I-δ1IT +V-V*Vμ3V*+δ2B*V*I*I-μ3V-δ2BV +T-T*μ4T*T*-γI*T*T*+γI-μ4+B-B*μ5B*B*-θB*V*B*+θV-μ5.

Eq. (55) yields:

56
dLdt=U-U*U(1-ϕ)α(U*V*-UV)+I-I*μ2I*UVIU*V*-1 +V-V*μ3V*IVI*-1+γI*(T-T*)+θV(B-B*)-(U-U*)2Uμ1 -I-I*δ1T-I*T*UVIU*V*-V-V*δ2B-B*V*IVI*-γI*T-T*-θV*B-B*.

Implies:

57
dLdt=M+N,

where:

58
M=U-U*U(1-ϕ)α(U*V*-UV)+I-I*μ2I*UVIU*V*-1+V-V*μ3V*IVI*-1 +γI*T-T*+θVB-B*,
59
N=-(U-U*)2Uμ1-I-I*δ1T-I*T*UVIU*V*-V-V*δ2B-B*V*IVI* -γI*T-T*-θV*B-B*.

From Eq. (57) if M<N then dL/dt will be negative definite meaning that dL/dt<0, it follows that dL/dt=0 if and only if U=U*, I=I*, V=V*, T=T*, B=B*. Therefore, the largest compact invariant set in U*,I*,V*,T*,B*)R5:dL/dt=0 is the singleton E1 where E1 is the virus persistence equilibrium of the model Eqs. (1-5). By Lasalle’s invariant principle, it implies that E1 is globally stable in R5 if M<N. Otherwise, it is unstable if M>N. This completes the proof of Theorem 2.

8. Conclusions

In this paper, we analysed Lyaponuv function and global stability of a mathematical model of Ebola virus infection, a mathematical model for the dynamics of Ebola virus infectious of an individual was presented. The virus free equilibrium (VFE), virus persistence equilibrium (VPE) and effective reproduction number of the model were obtained. The conditions under which the virus-free-equilibrium was globally asymptotically stable with method of linear Lyapunov function were shown when the effective reproduction numbers less than unity. The nonlinear Lyapunov function of global stability of the virus persistence equilibrium was shown and we found that VPE is globally asymptotically stable if M<N, otherwise unstable if M>N.

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About this article

Received
04 April 2021
Accepted
20 May 2021
Published
21 June 2021
Keywords
Ebola virus
effective reproduction number
global stability
Lyapunov function