Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8914-3335
Defense Date
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Systems Modeling and Analysis
First Advisor
Angela M. Reynolds
Second Advisor
Rebecca A. Segal
Third Advisor
Nastassja A. Lewinski
Fourth Advisor
H. Reed Ogrosky
Abstract
A variety of insults, including tissue injury and/or exposure to pathogen, elicit an immune response in many organisms. An improperly regulated immune response can result in deleterious effects to the organism. Here we present models for lung injury in young and old mice and models for wound healing in coral reefs.
It is well known that the immune response becomes less effective in older individuals. This is of particular interest in pulmonary insults such as ventilator induced lung injury (VILI) or lung infection. We extended a mathematical model for the inflammatory response to VILI and used experimental data to select parameters and perform model analysis. We then modified this model to include a bacterial insult and specific cytokine populations, performing a similar process for parameter selection and model analysis. In both cases, parameters involved in macrophage activity primarily drove observed differences associated with the young or old data.
Coral reefs regularly experience wounding events some corals have exhibited an immune response similar to that of humans. The effects of climate change stresses the reef which may affect wound healing processes. To address this, we formulated a mathematical model for wound healing in corals in normal conditions and heat stressed conditions. We further paired this model with a dynamic energy budget model, to show how corals must balance energy reserves between growth and tissue repair. The models presented here serve as a first step to modeling the immune response to tissue damage in corals in various environments.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-9-2024