Mathematical model of antiviral immune response. II. Parameters identification for acute viral hepatitis B.

Considering the mathematical model of antiviral immune response, we describe a method of fitting the model to the data characterizing acute viral hepatitis B. The corresponding procedure employs an idea of sequential parameter estimation to make the problem of fitting manageable. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the quantitative manifestations of the four basic phases of acute hepatitis B are used to select the model parameters. The identified model of acute hepatitis B is then tested with regard to the following situations: the effect of HBsAg-specific antibodies on HBV challenge; the vaccination and the resistance to challenge using live hepatitis B virus; the dose of viruses--the incubation time relationships. The sensitivity of the model with respect to parameters variations is then analysed. The developed model allows us to quantitatively simulate the basic features of the antiviral immune response during acute hepatitis B and some closely related phenomena.