PT-symmetric model of immune response

Bender, Carl M and Ghatak, Ananya and Gianfreda, Mariagiovanna (2017) PT-symmetric model of immune response. In: JOURNAL OF PHYSICS A-MATHEMATICAL AND THEORETICAL, 50 (3).

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Abstract

The study of PT-symmetric physical systems began in 1998 as a complex generalization of conventional quantum mechanics, but beginning in 2007 experiments began to be published in which the predicted PT phase transition was clearly observed in classical rather than in quantum-mechanical systems. This paper examines the classical PT phase transition in dynamical-system models that are moderately accurate representations of antigen-antibody systems. A surprising conclusion that can be drawn from these models is that it might be possible treat a serious disease in which the antigen concentration grows out of bounds (and the host dies) by injecting a small dose of a second ( different) antigen. In this case a PT-symmetric analysis shows there are two possible favorable outcomes. In the unbroken-PT-symmetric phase the disease becomes chronic and is no longer lethal, while in the appropriate broken-PT-symmetric phase the concentration of lethal antigen goes to zero and the disease is completely cured.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	JOURNAL OF PHYSICS A-MATHEMATICAL AND THEORETICAL
Additional Information:	Copy right for this article belongs to the IOP PUBLISHING LTD, TEMPLE CIRCUS, TEMPLE WAY, BRISTOL BS1 6BE, ENGLAND
Department/Centre:	Division of Physical & Mathematical Sciences > Physics
Date Deposited:	31 Jan 2017 05:26
Last Modified:	31 Jan 2017 05:26
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/56031

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