To quantify the dynamics of HIV-1 replication during acute infection, we develop a novel mathematical model and use it to analyze experimental data from humanized mice infected with HIV-1. Our model describes the acute phase of the infection reasonably, allowing us to estimate several parameters such as the exponential growth rate (1.00±0.59 per day) characterizing this HIV-1 infection. Futhermore, we calculated the death rate of infected cell (0.70±0.33 per day) and the basic reproductive number (3.76±1.53) in HIV-1 infected humanized mice from the relation of parameter values which could be estimated from the time course datasets during the acute phase. Finally, we discuss how the model improves our understanding of viral infection dynamics in vivo.

viral dynamics; mathematical model; humanized mouse