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T. Cruzi Meets Wall Modeling Parasite Interaction with their Environment Cailin K. Andruss Virginia Commonwealth University NSF BBSI Program 2005 - 2006. Summary. Project Overview Specific Problems Addressed Cell Movement Vector Reflecting Results Where to go from here?. Project Overview.
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T. Cruzi Meets WallModeling Parasite Interaction with their EnvironmentCailin K. AndrussVirginia Commonwealth UniversityNSF BBSI Program 2005 - 2006
Summary • Project Overview • Specific Problems Addressed • Cell Movement • Vector Reflecting • Results • Where to go from here?
Project Overview • Chagas’ Disease, caused by infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is deadly and wide spread. • Very little is known about the parasite that could be used in treatment and prevention. • The Virtual Parasite Project aims to design an in silico laboratory that provides insight into the parasite-host dynamics of the T. cruzi parasite with its host by modeling the biophysical interactions.
Specific Problem • Cells • Representing a cell • Generating a list of cells • Getting Scheme to talk to SimRender • Swimming • Updating position at each timestep • What happens when the parasite hits a wall?
Cell Movement Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (2, 1, 3)
Cell Movement Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (3, 2, 1)
Cell Movement Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (4, 3, -1)
Cell Movement Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (x, y, 0+r)
Cell Movement Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (2.5, 1.5, .5)
Vector Reflecting Distance / Timestep (1, 1, -2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (2.5, 1.5, .5)
Vector Reflecting Distance / Timestep (?, ?, ?) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (2.5, 1.5, .5)
Vector Reflecting Distance / Timestep (1, 1, 2) Radius .5 Type T-cruzi Position (2.5, 1.5, .5)
Results • Vectors reflected correctly……some of the time. • In the process of troubleshooting, I found a shortcut that appears to work, but still needs more testing. • Passed all the tests that had made the previous method fail. • However, when visualized in Simrender, there were some odd anomalies.
Where to go from here? • The sphere needs to become an ellipsoid • Refine the calculation of the contact point between the parasite and the wall. • Including the real physics. • Basic Newtonian mechanics (gravity, liquid drag, etc.) • Swimming force • van der Waals interactions with host cells. • Charge-charge and mass-mass interactions with other parasites and the walls. • Optimize and benchmark the calculations • Add randomness • Host cell invasion
Acknowledgements • Dr. Tarynn M. Witten • Dr. Wayne Iba • VPP team • BBSI Students and Staff • BCCL team