A mathematical analysis of the dynamics of prion proliferation

How do the normal prion protein (PrPC) and infectious prion protein (PrPSc) populations interact in an infected host? To answer this question, we analyse the behavior of the two populations by studying a system of differential equations. The system is constructed under the assumption that PrPSc proliferates using the mechanism of nucleated polymerization. We prove that with parameter input consistent with experimentally determined values, we obtain the persistence of PrPSc. We also prove local stability results for the disease steady state, and a global stability result for the disease free steady state. Finally, we give numerical simulations, which are confirmed by experimental data. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.