Abstract
In this paper, we formulate and analyze an HTLV /HIV dual infection model taking into consideration the response of Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). The model includes eight compartments, uninfected CD4(+)T cells, latent HIV-infected cells, active HIV-infected cells, free HIV particles, HIV-specific CTLs, latent HTLV-infected cells, active HTLV-infected cells and HTLV-specific CTLs. The HIV can enter and infect an uninfected CD4(+)T cell by two ways, free-to-cell and infected-to-cell. Infected-to-cell spread of HIV occurs when uninfected CD4(+)T cells are touched with active or latent HIV-infected cells. In contrast, there are two modes for HTLV-I transmission, (i) horizontal, via direct infected-to-cell touch, and (ii) vertical, by mitotic division of active HTLV-infected cells. We analyze the model by proving the nonnegativity and boundedness of the solutions, calculating all possible steady states, deriving a set of key threshold parameters, and proving the global stability of all steady states. The global asymptotic stability of all steady states is proven by using Lyapunov-LaSalle asymptotic stability theorem. We performed numerical simulations to support and illustrate the theoretical results. In addition, we compared between the dynamics of single and dual infections.