• A STOCHASTIC MODEL FOR TIME TO CROSS ANTIGENIC DIVERSITY THRESHOLD OF HIV INFECTION UNDER PREVENTIVE STRATEGY

Abstract

In the study of HIV infection and its consequences the seroconversion of the infected is a vital event. The estimation of the expected time to seroconversion of the HIV infected over the time interval (o,t] is an important aspect which helps medical intervension. The concept of preventive strategy is gaining the greater importance now a days in view of both prevention and delaying the process of seroconversion. The effectiveness of such a preventive strategy is investigated using a stochastic model by appropriate conceptualization of the problem. In this paper the stochastic model to derive the expected time to seroconversion from the time point at which HIV transmission takes place by introducing the concept of alertness. In developing such a stochastic model and cumulative damage process are used. Numerical illustration is provided using stimulated data.