TITLE:
Effects of the Cytotoxic T-Cells on the Dynamics of Co-Infection of HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis
AUTHORS:
Chipo Mufudza, Senelani D. Hove-Musekwa, Edward T. Chiyaka
KEYWORDS:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, HIV, Co-Infection, Cytotoxic T-Cells, Lytic and Non-Lytic Factors
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.4 No.4,
December
15,
2016
ABSTRACT: Enhancement of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) specific cytotoxic T-cells mechanisms in an HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) co-infected individual seems to improve the clinical picture of an individual by reducing Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) state progression rate. In this paper, we develop a system of deterministic differential equations representing the immune cells involved in an HIV-1 and Mtb co-infected individual. Results show that although the non-lytic arm of the HIV-1 cytotoxic T-cells affects the co-infection dynamics more than the lytic factors, a combination of both factors results in a more positive reduced progression to the AIDS state. This is due to the increased protection of the CD4+ T-cells by the CTL mechanisms by further reducing infections and replications by the HIV. Thus, HIV-1 specific CTLs mechanisms’ involvement is here recommended to be part of a solution to the HIV and Mtb co-infection problems.