Global dynamics of a HTLV-I infection model with CTL response

Abstract

In this paper, a HTLV-I infection model with CTL response is considered. To account for a series of events in infection process, we incorporate a intracellular time delay in the model. We prove that the global dynamics are determined by two threshold parameters R0 and R1, basic reproduction numbers for viral infection and for CTL response, respectively. If R0 < 1, the infection-free equilibrium P0 is globally asymptotically stable. If R1 < 1 < R0, the asymptomatic-carrier equilibrium P1 is globally asymptotically stable. If R1 > 1, there exists a unique HAM/TSP equilibrium P2, and the equilibrium P2 is asymptotically stable under certain conditions.