Mathematical Models of Hepatitis B Virus Dynamics during Antiviral Therapy

Antiviral therapy for patients infected with hepatitis B virus is only partially efficient. The field is in high demand for understanding the connections between the virus, immune responses, short-term and long-term drug efficacy and the overall health of the liver. A mathematical model was introduced in 2009 to help elucidate the host-virus dynamics after the start of therapy. The model allows the study of complicated viral patterns observed in HBV patients. In our research, we will analyze this model to determine the biological markers (e.g. liver proliferation, immune responses, and drug efficacy) that determine the different decay patterns. We will also investigate how such markers affect the length of therapy and the amount of liver damage.