Heterogeneity in and correlation between host transmissibility and susceptibility can greatly impact epidemic dynamics.

ABSTRACT: While it is well established that host heterogeneity in transmission and host heterogeneity in susceptibility each individually impact disease dynamics in characteristic ways, it is generally unknown how disease dynamics are impacted when both types of heterogeneity are simultaneously present. Here we explore this question. We first conducted a systematic review of published studies from which we determined that the effects of correlations have been drastically understudied. We then filled in the knowledge gaps by developing and analyzing a stochastic, individual-based SIR model that includes both heterogeneity in transmission and susceptibility and flexibly allows for positive or negative correlations between transmissibility and susceptibility. We found that in comparison to the uncorrel

SUBMITTER: Tuschhoff BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12083616 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature