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Superinfection Behaviors on Scale-Free Networks with Competing Strains

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Abstract

This paper considers the epidemiology of two strains (I,J) of a disease spreading through a population represented by a scale-free network. The epidemiological model is SIS and the two strains have different reproductive numbers. Superinfection means that strain I can infect individuals already infected with strain J, replacing the strain J infection. Individuals infected with strain I cannot be infected with strain J. The model is set up as a system of ordering differential equations and stability of the disease free, marginal strain I and strain J, and coexistence equilibria are assessed using linear stability analysis, supported by simulations. The main conclusion is that superinfection, as modeled in this paper, can allow strain I to coexist with strain J even when it has a lower basic reproductive number. Most strikingly, it can allow strain I to persist even when its reproductive number is less than 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mathematics and Information Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China

    Qingchu Wu

  2. School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Michael Small

  3. Faculty of Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, China

    Huaxiang Liu

Authors
  1. Qingchu Wu
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  2. Michael Small
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  3. Huaxiang Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qingchu Wu.

Additional information

Communicated by P. Newton.

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Wu, Q., Small, M. & Liu, H. Superinfection Behaviors on Scale-Free Networks with Competing Strains. J Nonlinear Sci 23, 113–127 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00332-012-9146-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00332-012-9146-1

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