Vizda Anam will defend her thesis on Thursday, February 26th

• The defence will take place at Salón de Grados at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Leioa Campus and online

Vizda Anam is interested in using mathematical models to understand the complex dynamics of infectious diseases. Her work focuses on studying antibody-mediated immune responses, deterministic and stochastic modelling, patient’s data vs model's assessments, and cross-immunity analyses in immunological models specifically for dengue fever. She also enjoys exploring the deeper patterns in these systems, like time-series, phase space, and refining models with real-world patients data using tools like Monolix.

She has done her bachelor’s and Master's degree in applied mathematics from University of Gujrat, Pakistan.

During her Master of Philosophy, his research focused on solving nonlinear partial differential equations using the sinc collocation method. Specifically, I applied this approach to the Hunter-Saxton and Camassa-Holm equations. 

This work honed her skills in numerical analysis and computational methods, providing a solid foundation for addressing complex problems in mathematical modeling. 

His thesis, titled Within-host models unravelling the dynamics of dengue reinfections is under the supervision of Dr. Maira Aguiar (BCAM & Ikerbasque) and Dr. Elena Akshmatkaya (BCAM and UPV/EHU)

The defence is scheduled for Thursday, February 6^th at Salón de Grados room at the Faculty of Science and Technology of the Leioa Campus at 12:00h.

On behalf of all members of BCAM, we would like to wish Vizda the best of luck in defending his thesis.

Abstract

Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), has emerged as a major global health concern, with millions of cases reported annually. The virus exists in four distinct serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4), each capable of inducing a range of symptoms. Clinical outcomes are heavily influenced by the host immune response, especially during secondary infections, where antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) increases the risk of severe disease. ADE occurs when non-neutralizing antibodies from a previous infection facilitate viral entry during a subsequent infection with a different serotype, leading to more severe manifestations of the disease.

This dissertation investigates the within-host dynamics of dengue infections, focusing on immune responses during primary and secondary exposures to DENV. Using mathematical models, the research explores the role of IgM and IgG antibodies in mediating viral load, as well as the dynamics of antibody production, immune memory, and infection clearance. The models examine the effects of ADE on viral dynamics in primary, secondary homologous, and secondary heterologous infections. Sensitivity analyses assess how variations in immune response parameters impact infection outcomes, particularly under conditions that promote ADE, while integrating empirical data on viral load and antibody kinetics to better understand dengue immunopathogenesis. Stochastic models account for individual variation, providing a more nuanced view of the disease dynamics.

Additionally, this ongoing research explores the implications of within-host dynamics for population-level transmission, including the role of temporary cross-immunity and homologous reinfections. By examining how individual immune profiles influence epidemiological trends, this work bridges the gap between immunology and epidemiology, offering insights into dengue control strategies. The findings will provide valuable guidance for vaccine development and public health interventions, aiming to improve disease management and reduce the global burden of dengue. Future research will further refine these models and extend their application to better inform disease control and prevention efforts.