Models of the within host dynamics of pathogens can capture processes critical to outcomes of fundamental and applied interest, ranging from the emergence of resistance, to the development of immune memory, to the magnitude of transmission. Development of such models faces several challenges: processes of interest are generally only indirectly observed, and the feedbacks that drive within-host spread are often only poorly characterized.
Results/Conclusions
Semi-mechanistic approaches, rooted in simple statistical framings can provide a window into these dynamics. Where such approaches are useful, Integral Projection Models may provide a natural mapping from statistical models to population level outcomes that encompass variation in trajectories of infection or recovery across individuals.