Eight challenges in modelling disease ecology in multi-host, multi-agent systems
Michael G. Buhnerkempe,
Mick G. Roberts,
Andrew P. Dobson,
Hans Heesterbeek,
Peter J. Hudson,
James O. Lloyd-Smith
Affiliations
Michael G. Buhnerkempe
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California—Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Mick G. Roberts
Institute of Natural & Mathematical Sciences, New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study and Infectious Disease Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
Andrew P. Dobson
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
Hans Heesterbeek
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Peter J. Hudson
Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
James O. Lloyd-Smith
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California—Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Many disease systems exhibit complexities not captured by current theoretical and empirical work. In particular, systems with multiple host species and multiple infectious agents (i.e., multi-host, multi-agent systems) require novel methods to extend the wealth of knowledge acquired studying primarily single-host, single-agent systems. We outline eight challenges in multi-host, multi-agent systems that could substantively increase our knowledge of the drivers and broader ecosystem effects of infectious disease dynamics.
