Spatiotemporal models of intra and extra cellular processes

数学模型在理解生物过程中起着越来越重要的作用。我的研究重点是与细胞过程相关的模型。具体来说，我使用渐近分析和摄动理论的方法来研究形成局域结构的系统。这样的系统在生物学的许多领域起着重要的作用。正在考虑的新模型包括动脉粥样硬化斑块形成模型，秀丽隐杆线虫早期发育极性形成模型和细胞表面受体聚集模型。此外，我们将继续研究细胞信号转导和一般模式形成的模型。下面是每个项目的一些细节。

Mathematical models are playing an increasingly important role in the understanding of biological processes. My research focuses on models related to cellular processes. Specifically I use methods from asymptotic analysis and perturbation theory to study systems which form localized structures. Such systems play important roles in many areas of biology. The new models being considered include a model of plaque formation in atherosclerosis, a model of the formation of polarity in the early C. elegans development and a model of cell surface receptor aggregation. As well we will continue to work on models of cell signal transduction and general pattern formation. Some details of each project follow. Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of death in the world today. Briefly the disease consists of the formation of a fatty plaque on the arterial wall resulting in a blockage and reduction in blood flow. We will model the system with a reaction-diffusion system consisting of the interaction between immune cells, foam cells, and low-density lipoproteins (distinguishing between the oxidized and unoxidized forms) and chemo-attractants. Previous studies have shown that such systems can form localized solutions representing a plaque. We will use the methods for studying nonlinear patterns to determine the condition under which a plaque may form and find the size of the plaque. A great deal is known about the developmental process of the nematode C. elgans. One of the first steps to occur is the formation of anterior and posterior regions the egg after fertilization. This is accomplished by the segregation of proteins to opposite ends of the cell, creating two biochemically distinct regions. We model the system with a reaction-diffusion equation which incorporates the geometry of the egg. We intend to show that the egg geometry is crucial for the formation of a robustly placed barrier. In previous work, I have considered a three dimensional model of cell signal transduction. A key element of this model was the localization of enzymes which activate messenger molecules in the signal transduction process. This work focused on the events occurring inside the cell. We now propose a model of the formation of surface receptor aggregation. We will use density dependent diffusion to model the effect of reduced motility of large groups of cell surface molecules.