A model of the dynamics of insect cell infection at low multiplicity of infection

In the present paper, we offer a preliminary mathematical model that describes the dynamic process of cell infection with baculovirus at low multiplicity of infection (MOI). The model accounts for the chain of events that follow the infection of insect cells, namely the eclipse period, the budding of viral particles from those cells, their attachment to non-infected cells and the initiation of a new infection cycle. These cycles appear as fluctuations in the viral concentration of actual cell culture media. The potential of the present approach in simulating the in vitro production of biological insecticides is demonstrated. The influence of the shape of the virus-budding function is shown, and parameter sensitivity analysis is carried out. The model provides a quantitative tool for the analysis of this complex dynamic system.