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Springer Nature - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Springer Nature - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2022 Jan 27;137(2):174. doi: 10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-02387-2

Global analysis of within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model with latency

A M Elaiw 1,2,, A D Al Agha 3, S A Azoz 4, E Ramadan 4
PMCID: PMC8793338  PMID: 35106266

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this paper, we analyze a within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model. The model is made up of eight ordinary differential equations. These equations describe the interactions between healthy epithelial cells, latently infected epithelial cells, productively infected epithelial cells, SARS-CoV-2 particles, healthy CD4+ T cells, latently infected CD4+ T cells, productively infected CD4+ T cells, and HIV particles. We confirm that the solutions of the developed model are bounded and nonnegative. We calculate the different steady states of the model and derive their existence conditions. We choose appropriate Lyapunov functions to show the global stability of all steady states. We execute some numerical simulations to assist the theoretical contributions. Based on our results, weak CD4+ T cell immunity in SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfected patients causes an increase in the concentrations of productively infected epithelial cells and SARS-CoV-2 particles. This may lead to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. This result agrees with many studies that discussed the high risk of severe infection and death in HIV patients when they get SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the other hand, increasing the death rate of infected epithelial cells during the latency period can reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. More studies are needed to understand the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection and find better ways to treat this vulnerable group of patients.

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new epidemic that emerged in China in late 2019. It is a respiratory disease ascribed to a virus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). According to COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update of October 13, 2021, by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1], the cumulative number of confirmed cases reported globally exceeded 237 million and the total number of deaths reached over 4.8 million [1]. The number of new weekly COVID-19 cases has showed a decline since late August 2021 in most countries of the world [1]. SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection has become a concern especially in HIV patients who are not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) or have low CD4+ T cell counts [2, 3]. As there were approximately 37.7 million people living with HIV at the end of 2020 [4], understanding SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection should take a special attention.

SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus and it is a member of the Coronaviridae family [5]. It binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor of epithelial cells [5, 6]. The principal target of SARS-CoV-2 is the alveolar epithelial type 2 cells of the lungs [7]. ACE2 is also expressed in many organs like the kidney, liver, and heart [8]. SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets which carry virus particles [9]. Many COVID-19 therapies are being clinically tested to evaluate their effectiveness and safety [10]. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the antiviral drug Veklury to treat COVID-19 in adults and some pediatric patients who need hospitalization [10]. There are seven vaccines approved for use by WHO: Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen(Johnson & Johnson), Oxford/AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India, Sinpharm (Beijing), and Sinovac [11].

On the other hand, HIV is a member of RNA lentiviruses [9]. The principal receptor of HIV is CD4 receptor [6, 9]. CD4 is expressed in different immune cells like CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells [6]. Nevertheless, CD4+ T cells are the primary target of HIV. CD4+ T cells help other immune cells like CD8+ T cells and B cells in fighting against viral infections [12]. Targeting CD4+ T cells by HIV causes a reduction in the number of these cells. Therefore, the body of HIV patient becomes susceptible to other viral infections [13]. HIV is transmitted through blood or sexual contact [6]. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to treat HIV infection, which reduces the viral load and prevents the development to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) [14]. Notably, no HIV vaccines have been approved yet [6].

The first case of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection was reported for a 61-year-old man from China [9]. Other coinfection cases were reported in Spain, Italy, and the USA [9]. The most typical symptoms of coinfection were fever, cough, and shortness of breath [9]. It has been found that HIV patients are more likely to experience severe COVID-19 when infected [3]. The risk of severe infection increases further in HIV patients who do not receive antiretroviral therapy or have low CD4+ T cell counts [3, 15]. Furthermore, the severity risk increases in the presence of other comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease [3, 16, 17]. Based on WHO recommendations [18], many COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people living with HIV.

Mathematical modeling has been considered a significant tool for studying and investigating viral infections. HIV within-host models have received great attention and lead to the significant results. These models were formulated using ordinary differential equations (ODEs) [1923], delay differential equations (DDEs) [2427], partial differential equations (PDEs) [2831], delay partial differential equations (DPDEs) [13, 3234], and fractional differential equations (FDEs) [35, 36]. These models exhibit mainly the interactions between HIV, uninfected CD4+ T cells, different types of infected CD4+ T cells, and the immune system.

However, very few models have studied so far to investigate the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 within the human body. For example, Li et al. [37] formulated a within-host ODE model to characterize the interactions between uninfected epithelial cells, infected epithelial cells, and SARS-CoV-2 particles. Du and Yuan [38] analyzed a similar model with taking into consideration the effect of antiviral drugs which prevent either infection or the production of SARS-CoV-2 particles. Al Agha et al. [7] used a within-host DDE to depict the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on cancer patients and the impact of infection on immune responses. Pinky and Dobrovolny [39] established a within-host model to study SARS-CoV-2 coinfection with other viruses like influenza A virus and human rhinovirus. Fadai et al. [40] proposed an ODE model with the assumption that uninfected epithelial cells follow logistic growth.

To the best of our knowledge, no within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV models have been studied so far. However, it is worth mentioning that Bellomo et al. [41, 42] studied the within-host dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 within a multiscale approach and the mathematical theory of active particles. The multiscale approach accounts for the interaction of different spatial scales where the dynamics at the high scale of individuals depends on the dynamics at the microscopic scale. Microscopic scale is determined by the competition between virus particles and the immune cells. Thus, the multiscale approach can be used to predict the time evolution of the number of healthy, infected, recovered, and dead individuals. Nevertheless, in this paper we concentrate on the interactions at the microscopic scale of coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and HIV. Coinfection models are needed to help understand the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients and the role of the immune system, to support medical research, and to find better ways to treat this vulnerable group of patients. In this paper, we establish a within-host model of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection. For this model, we (i) demonstrate that all solutions are bounded and nonnegative, (ii) calculate all steady-state solutions and the corresponding conditions of their existence, (iii) show the global stability of the steady states, (iv) execute some numerical simulations to enhance the results of computations, (v) discuss the effect of low concentration of CD4+ T cells on coinfected patients, (vi) test the impact of latency on the number of SARS-CoV-2 particles and HIV particles, and (vii) suggest some possible future works.

The paper is organized as follows. Section 2 describes the model under consideration. Section 3 shows that all solutions are bounded and greater than or equal zero. In addition, it lists all steady states with the positivity conditions of their components. Section 4 proves the global stability of all steady states computed in Sect. 3. Section 5 displays some numerical simulations. Finally, Sect. 6 discusses the results with some suggestions for future works.

SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model with latency

This section describes the model intended to be studied in this paper. The proposed model takes the form

X˙=ρ-d1X-ηVX,N˙=ηVX-(k+d2)N,Y˙=kN-d3Y-μYS,V˙=aY-d4V,S˙=ξ+uYS-d5S-θHS,T˙=(1-b)θHS-(α+d6)T,W˙=bθHS+αT-d7W,H˙=λW-d8H, 1

where (X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H)=(X(t),N(t),Y(t),V(t),S(t),T(t),W(t),H(t)) denote the concentrations of uninfected epithelial cells, latently infected epithelial cells, actively infected epithelial cells, free SARS-CoV-2 particles, uninfected CD4+ T cells, latently infected CD4+ T cells, actively infected CD4+ T cells, and free HIV particles at time t. Epithelial cells are produced from a source at a constant rate ρ, die at rate d1X, and get infected by SARS-CoV-2 at rate ηVX. Latently infected epithelial cells proliferate at rate ηVX, turn into active infected cells at rate kN, and die at rate d2N. Actively infected epithelial cells die at rate d3Y and are indirectly eliminated by CD4+ T cells at rate μYS. SARS-CoV-2 particles are produced from infected cells at rate aY and die at rate d4V. Uninfected CD4+ T cells are produced at a constant rate ξ, stimulated by infected epithelial cells at rate uYS, die at rate d5S, and get infected by HIV at rate θHS. A fraction b[0,1] of new infected CD4+ T cells will be active and the rest 1-b will be latent. Latently infected CD4+ T cells are transmitted into active cells at rate αT and die at a natural death rate d6T. Actively infected CD4+ T cells die at a natural death rate d7W. HIV particles are produced by infected cells at rate λW and die at rate d8H. The descriptions of the different parameters are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Values of parameters of model (1)

Par. Description Value References
ρ Recruitment rate of uninfected epithelial cells 0.02241 [43]
d1 Death rate constant of uninfected epithelial cells 10-3 [43]
η Infection rate constant of epithelial cells Varied
k Transmission rate constant of latently infected epithelial cells into active cells 4.08 [39]
d2 Death rate constant of latently infected epithelial cells 10-3 [39]
d3 Death rate constant of actively infected epithelial cells 0.11 [43]
μ Indirect killing rate constant of CD4+ T cells Varied
a Production rate constant of SARS-CoV-2 by actively infected epithelial cells 0.24 [43]
d4 Death rate constant of free SARS-CoV-2 particles Varied
ξ Recruitment rate of uninfected CD4+ T cells 10 [21]
u Stimulation rate constant of CD4+ T cells 0.1 [44]
d5 Death rate constant of uninfected CD4+ T cells 0.01 [45]
θ Infection rate constant of CD4+ T cells Varied
α Transmission rate constant of latently infected CD4+ T cells into active cells 0.2 [46]
d6 Death rate constant of latently infected CD4+ T cells 0.02 [46]
b A fraction of newly infected CD4+ T cells that become active 0.7 [46]
d7 Death rate constant of actively infected CD4+ T cells 0.5 [47]
λ Production rate constant of HIV by actively infected cells 5 [48]
d8 Death rate constant of free HIV particles 2 [48]

Basic properties

This section verifies the nonnegativity and boundedness of solutions of model (1). Moreover, it calculates all possible steady states with the associated threshold conditions.

Nonnegativity and boundedness

We define a compact set

Θ=X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,HR08:0Xt,Nt,YtΩ1,0VtΩ2,0St,Tt,WtΩ3,0HtΩ4,

where Ωj>0, j=1,,4.

Proposition 1

The set Θ is positively invariant for model (1).

Proof

From model (1), we have

X˙X=0=ρ>0,N˙N=0=ηVX0for allV,X0,Y˙Y=0=kN0for allN0,V˙V=0=aY0for allY0,S˙S=0=ξ>0,T˙T=0=(1-b)θHS0for allH,S0,W˙W=0=bθHS+αT0for allH,S,T0,H˙H=0=λW0for allW0.

Thus, we get (X(t),N(t),Y(t),V(t),S(t),T(t),W(t),H(t))R08 for all t0 when (X(0),N(0),Y(0),V(0),S(0),T(0),W(0),H(0))R08.

To prove the boundedness of all state variables, we define

Ψ(t)=X+N+Y+d32aV+μuS+T+W+μd72uλH.

Then, we get

Ψ˙(t)=ρ+μuξ-d1X-d2N-d32Y-d3d42aV-μd5uS-μd6uT-μd72uW-μd7d82uλHρ+μuξ-ϕX+N+Y+d32aV+μuS+T+W+μd72uλH=ρ+μuξ-ϕΨ(t),

where ϕ=mind1,d2,d32,d4,d5,d6,d72,d8. It follows that

Ψ(t)e-ϕtΨ(0)-ρ+μuξϕ+ρ+μuξϕ.

Hence, 0ΨtΩ1 if Ψ0Ω1 for t0, where Ω1=ρ+μuξϕ. As XNYVSTW and H are nonnegative, we have 0Xt,Nt,YtΩ1, 0VtΩ2, 0St,Tt,WtΩ3, 0HtΩ4 if X0+N0+Y0+d32aV0+μuS0+T0+W0+μd72uλH0Ω1, where Ω2=2ad3Ω1, Ω3=uμΩ1, and Ω4=2uλμd7Ω1. This shows that the set Θ is positively invariant.

Steady states

In this subsection, we calculate all possible steady states of model (1) and conclude the threshold conditions that cover the existence of these steady states.

To compute the steady states of the model we solve the following system of algebraic equations:

0=ρ-d1X-ηVX,0=ηVX-(k+d2)N,0=kN-d3Y-μYS,0=aY-d4V,0=ξ+uYS-d5S-θHS,0=(1-b)θHS-(α+d6)T,0=bθHS+αT-d7W,0=λW-d8H.

We find that model (1) has four steady states:

  • (i)

    The uninfected steady state Δ0(X0,0,0,0,S0,0,0,0), where X0=ρd1and S0=ξd5.

  • (ii)
    The single HIV-infection steady state ΔH(X1,0,0,0,S1,T1,W1,H1), where
    X1=ρd1=X0,S1=d7d8d6+αθλα+d6b=S0R1,T1=1-bξd6+α-d5d7d8θλα+d6b=d5d7d81-bθλα+d6b(R1-1),W1=-d5d8θλ+ξα+d6bd7d6+α=d5d8θλ(R1-1),H1=-d5θ+λξα+d6bd7d8d6+α=d5θ(R1-1),
    where R1=ξθλα+d6bd5d7d8d6+α. Here, R1 is the basic reproduction number of HIV infection. It determines the establishment of HIV infection in the body. We see that X1 and S1 are always positive, while T1, W1 and H1 are positive if R1>1. Therefore, ΔH exists when R1>1.
  • (iii)
    The single SARS-CoV-2–infection steady state ΔV(X2,N2,Y2,V2,S2,0,0,0), where
    Y2=d4V2a,S2=ξd5-uY2,X2=(k+d2)(Y2d3+S2Y2μ)kηV2,N2=Y2d3+S2Y2μk, 2
    and V2 satisfies the following equation:
    P1V22+P2V2+P3akη(ad5-ud4V)=0, 3
    where
    P1=ud42ηd3(k+d2),P2=ud1d42d3(k+d2)-ad5d4ηd3(k+d2)-ad4ημξ(k+d2)-aud4ηρk,P3=-ad1d5d4d3(k+d2)-ad1d4μξ(k+d2)+a2d5ηρk.
    Now we show that there exists a positive root for Eq. (3). We define a function G(V) as
    G(V)=P1V2+P2V+P3akη(ad5-ud4V).
    We have
    G(0)=-ad1d5d4d3(k+d2)-ad1d4μξ(k+d2)+a2d5ηρka2d5ηk=(k+d2)(d1d5d4d3+d1d4μξ)ad5ηk(R2-1),
    where R2=ad5ηρkd1d4(k+d2)(d5d3+μξ). This implies that G(0)>0 when R2>1. Moreover, we find that
    limVad5ud4-G(V)=-.
    It follows that there exists 0<V2<ad5ud4 such that G(V2)=0. From Eq. (2) we get Y2>0, S2>0, X2>0 and N2>0. As a result, ΔV exists when R2>1. The parameter R2 is the basic reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It determines the establishment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the body.
  • (iv)
    The SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection steady state ΔVH(X3,N3,Y3,V3,S3,W3,H3), where
    X3=d4(k+d2)d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+αakηθλα+d6b,N3=-d1d4d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+αakηθλα+d6b+ρk+d2,Y3=-d1d4aη+θλρkα+d6bk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α,V3=-d1η+akθλρα+d6bd4k+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α,S3=d7d8d6+αθλα+d6b,T3=d7d81-bd1d4u+ad5ηaηθλα+d6b×aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4uξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α-1,W3=d8aηd5+d1d4uaηθλ×aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4uξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α-1,H3=aηd5+d1d4uaηθ×aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4uξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α-1.
    It follows that T3>0, W3>0 and H3>0 only when aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4u ξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α>1. On the other hand, N3>0, Y3>0 and V3>0 only when aηθλρkα+d6bd1d4k+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α>1. Thus, we can rewrite the components of ΔVH as
    X3=X0R4,N3=d1d4d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+αaηθλkα+d6bR4-1,Y3=d1d4aηR4-1,V3=d1ηR4-1,S3=d7d8d6+αθλα+d6b,T3=d7d81-bd1d4u+ad5ηaηθλα+d6bR3-1,W3=d8aηd5+d1d4uaηθλR3-1,H3=aηd5+d1d4uaηθR3-1,
    where
    R3=aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4uξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α,R4=aηθλρkα+d6bd1d4k+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α.
    Therefore, ΔVH exists when R3>1 and R4>1. At this point, R3 and R4 are threshold numbers that determine the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection.

All steady states of model (1) and their existence conditions are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2.

Steady states of model (1) and their existence conditions

Steady state Definition Existence conditions
Δ0=(X0,0,0,0,S0,0,0,0) Uninfected steady state None
ΔH=(X1,0,0,0,S1,T1,W1,H1) Single HIV–infection steady state R1>1
ΔV=X2,N2,Y2,V2,S2,0,0,0 Single SARS-CoV-2–infection steady state R2>1
ΔVH=X3,N3,Y3,V3,S3,T3,W3,H3 SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection steady state R3>1 and R4>1

The four threshold parameters are given as follows:

R1=ξθλα+d6bd5d7d8d6+α,R2=ad5ηρkd1d4(k+d2)(d5d3+μξ),R3=aηθλα+d6baηd5+d1d4uξd7d8d6+α+uρkk+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α,R4=aηθλρkα+d6bd1d4k+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α.

Global stability of steady states

In this section, we prove the global asymptotic stability of all steady states by constructing Lyapunov functions following the method presented in [49]. We define F(ν)=ν-1-lnν. We will use the arithmetic–geometric mean inequality

1ni=1nχiΠi=1nχin,χi0,i=1,2,

which yields

SjS+SWjHSjWHj+WHjWjH3,j=1,3, 4
SjS+STjHSjTHj+WHjWjH+TWjTjW4,j=1,3, 5
XjX+XNjVXjNVj+YVjYjV+NYjNjY4,j=2,3. 6

Theorem 1

If R11 and R21, then Δ0 is globally asymptotically stable (G.A.S).

Proof

Construct a Lyapunov function ϑ0(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H) as:

ϑ0=X0FXX0+N+k+d2kY+ηX0d4V+μ(k+d2)ukS0FSS0+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H.

Clearly, ϑ0(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H)>0 for all X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H>0, and ϑ0(X0,0,0,0,S0,0,0,0)=0. By calculating dϑ0dt along the solutions of model (1), we get

dϑ0dt=1-X0XX˙+N˙+k+d2kY˙+ηX0d4V˙+μ(k+d2)uk1-S0SS˙+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T˙+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W˙+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H˙=1-X0Xρ-d1X-ηVX+[ηVX-k+d2N]+k+d2kkN-d3Y-μYS+ηX0d4aY-d4V+μ(k+d2)uk1-S0Sξ+uYS-d5S-θHS+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)[1-bθHS-α+d6T]+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS+αT-d7W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)λW-d8H.

Using ρ=d1X0 and ξ=d5S0, we obtain

dϑ0dt=-d1XX-X02-ηVX+ηVX0+ηVX-k+d2N+k+d2N-k+d2kd3Y-k+d2kμYS+ηX0d4aY-ηX0V-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S02+k+d2kμYS-k+d2kμYS0-μ(k+d2)ukθHS+μ(k+d2)ukθS0H+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHS-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)α+d6T+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)αT-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7W-μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H=-d1XX-X02-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S02+ηX0d4a-k+d2kd3-k+d2kμS0Y+μ(k+d2)ukθS0-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)H=-d1XX-X02-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S02+(k+d2)d5d3+μξkd5ad5ηρkd1d4(k+d2)(d5d3+μξ)-1Y+μd7d8(k+d2)(d6+α)λku(α+d6b)ξθλα+d6bd5d7d8d6+α-1H=-d1XX-X02-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S02+(k+d2)d5d3+μξkd5R2-1Y+μd7d8(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)R1-1H.

As R11 and R21, we get dϑ0dt0 for all X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H>0 and dϑ0dt=0 when X=X0, S=S0 and Y=H=0. Define Υ0=X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H:dϑ0dt=0 and let Υ0 be the largest invariant subset of Υ0. The solutions of model (1) converge to Υ0. The set Υ0 includes elements with X=X0, S=S0 and Y=H=0, and hence Y˙=H˙=0. The third and last equations of model (1) yield

0=Y˙=kN,0=H˙=λW.

Thus, N(t)=W(t)=0 for all t. The second and seventh equations give

0=N˙=ηVX0,0=W˙=αT.

Thus, V(t)=T(t)=0 for all t. Therefore, Υ0=Δ0 and by applying Lyapunov–LaSalle asymptotic stability theorem [5052] we get that Δ0 is G.A.S.

Theorem 2

If R1>1 and R41, then ΔH is globally asymptotically stable (G.A.S).

Proof

Define a Lyapunov function ϑ1(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H) as

ϑ1=X1FXX1+N+k+d2kY+ηX1d4V+μ(k+d2)ukS1FSS1+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T1FTT1+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W1FWW1+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H1FHH1.

By differentiating ϑ1, we obtain

dϑ1dt=1-X1XX˙+N˙+k+d2kY˙+ηX1d4V˙+μ(k+d2)uk1-S1SS˙+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-T1TT˙+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)1-W1WW˙+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)1-H1HH˙=1-X1Xρ-d1X-ηVX+[ηVX-k+d2N]+k+d2kkN-d3Y-μYS+ηX1d4aY-d4V+μ(k+d2)uk1-S1Sξ+uYS-d5S-θHS+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-T1T[1-bθHS-α+d6T]+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)1-W1WbθHS+αT-d7W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)1-H1HλW-d8H=1-X1Xρ-d1X+ηVX1-k+d2kd3Y+ηX1d4aY-ηVX1+μ(k+d2)uk1-S1Sξ-d5S-k+d2kμYS1-μ(k+d2)ukθHS+μ(k+d2)ukθHS1+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHS-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHST1T-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)α+d6T+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)α+d6T1+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHSW1W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)αT-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)αTW1W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7W1-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7WH1H-μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H1.

Using steady-state conditions for ΔH, we get

ρ=d1X1,ξ=d5S1+θH1S1,1-bθH1S1=α+d6T1,bθH1S1=d7W1-αT1,λW1=d8H1.

Then, we obtain

dϑ1dt=-d1XX-X12+ηX1d4a-k+d2kd3-k+d2kμS1Y-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S12+μ(k+d2)ukθH1S1-μ(k+d2)ukθH1S1S1S1+μ(k+d2)ukθHS1-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHST1T+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S1-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHSW1W-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S1TW1T1W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH1S1+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S1-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH1S1WH1W1H-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S1WH1W1H-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS1-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHS1+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH1S1+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S1=-d1XX-X12-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S12+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH1S12-SW1HS1WH1-WH1W1H+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S13-ST1HS1TH1-TW1T1W-WH1W1H+μ(k+d2)ukθH1S11-S1S+(k+d2)d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+αkθλα+d6baηθλρkα+d6bd1d4k+d2d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α-1Y=-d1XX-X12-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S12+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH1S13-S1S-SW1HS1WH1-WH1W1H+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH1S14-S1S-ST1HS1TH1-TW1T1W-WH1W1H+(k+d2)d3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+αkθλα+d6bR4-1Y.

As R41 and according to inequalities (4) and (5), we get dϑ1dt0 for all X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H>0. Moreover, dϑ1dt=0 when X=X1, S=S1, T=T1, W=W1, H=H1 and Y=0. The solutions of model (1) converge to Υ1 the largest invariant subset of Υ1=X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H:dϑ1dt=0. The set Υ1 includes Y=0, and then Y˙=0. The third equation of model (1) implies that

0=Y˙=kN,

which yields N(t)=0 for all t. We get from the second equation that

0=N˙=ηVX1,

which yields V(t)=0 for all t. Hence, Υ1=ΔH and ΔH is G.A.S using Lyapunov–LaSalle asymptotic stability theorem.

Theorem 3

If R2>1 and R31, then ΔV is globally asymptotically stable (G.A.S).

Proof

Define a Lyapunov function ϑ2(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H) as:

ϑ2=X2FXX2+N2FNN2+k+d2kY2FYY2+ηX2d4V2FVV2+μ(k+d2)ukS2FSS2+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H.

By differentiating ϑ2, we get

dϑ2dt=1-X2XX˙+1-N2NN˙+k+d2k1-Y2YY˙+ηX2d41-V2VV˙+μ(k+d2)uk1-S1SS˙+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T˙+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W˙+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H˙=1-X2Xρ-d1X-ηVX+1-N2NηVX-k+d2N+k+d2k1-Y2YkN-d3Y-μYS+ηX2d41-V2VaY-d4V+μ(k+d2)uk1-S2Sξ+uYS-d5S-θHS+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHS-α+d6T+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS+αT-d7W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)λW-d8H=1-X2Xρ-d1X-ηVXN2N+k+d2N2-k+d2NY2Y-k+d2kd3Y+k+d2kd3Y2+k+d2kμY2S+ηX2d4aY-ηX2d4aYV2V+ηV2X2+μ(k+d2)uk1-S2Sξ-d5S-k+d2kμYS2+μ(k+d2)ukθS2H-μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H.

By using the steady-state conditions for ΔV

ρ=d1X2+ηV2X2,ηV2X2=(k+d2)N2,kN2=d3Y2+μY2S2,aY2=d4V2,ξ=d5S2-uY2S2,

we obtain

dϑ2dt=-d1XX-X22+ηV2X2-ηV2X2X2X-ηVXN2N+ηV2X2+ηX2d4a-k+d2kd3-k+d2kμS2Y-ηV2X2NY2N2Y+ηV2X2-k+d2kμY2S2+k+d2kμY2S-ηV2X2YV2Y2V+ηV2X2-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S22-k+d2kμY2S2+k+d2kμY2S2S2S+μ(k+d2)ukθS2-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)H=-d1XX-X22-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S22-k+d2kμY2S22-S2S-SS2+μ(k+d2)ukθS2-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)H+ηV2X24-X2X-XN2VX2NV2-NY2N2Y-YV2Y2V=-d1XX-X22-μξ(k+d2)ukSS2S-S22+μ(k+d2)ukθS2-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)H+ηV2X24-X2X-XN2VX2NV2-NY2N2Y-YV2Y2V.

Hence, if R31, then ΔVH does not exist since H30, W30 and T30. This implies that

H˙(t)=λW-d8H0,W˙(t)=bθHS+αT-d7W0,T˙(t)=(1-b)θHS-(α+d6)T0.

It follows that θS-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)0 for all H>0. Thus, θS2-d7d8(d6+α)λ(α+d6b)0 and by using inequality (6), we get dϑ2dt0 for all X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H>0 with equality holding when X=X2, S=S2, N=N2, Y=Y2, V=V2 and H=0. The solutions of model (1) converge to Υ2, the largest invariant subset of Υ2=X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H:dϑ2dt=0. Υ2 contains elements with H=0, and then H˙=0. Using the last equation of model (1), we obtain

0=H˙=λW,

which gives W(t)=0 for all t. Using the seventh equation of model (1), we obtain

0=W˙=αT,

which gives T(t)=0 for all t. Therefore, Υ2=ΔV and by applying Lyapunov–LaSalle asymptotic stability theorem we get that ΔV is G.A.S.

Theorem 4

If R4>1 and 1<R31+aηθλξα+d6bd7d8d6+α(aηd5+d1d4u), then ΔVH is globally asymptotically stable (G.A.S).

Proof

Define a Lyapunov function ϑ3(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H) as:

ϑ3=X3FXX3+N3FNN3+k+d2kY3FYY3+ηX3d4V3FVV3+μ(k+d2)ukS3FSS3+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)T3FTT3+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)W3FWW3+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)H3FHH3.

Differentiating ϑ3 with respect to t gives

dϑ3dt=1-X3XX˙+1-N3NN˙+k+d2k1-Y3YY˙+ηX3d41-V3VV˙+μ(k+d2)uk1-S3SS˙+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-T3TT˙+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)1-W3WW˙+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)1-H3HH˙=1-X3Xρ-d1X-ηVX+1-N3NηVX-k+d2N+k+d2k1-Y3YkN-d3Y-μYS+ηX3d41-V3VaY-d4V+μ(k+d2)uk1-S3Sξ+uYS-d5S-θHS+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-T3T1-bθHS-α+d6T+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)1-W3WbθHS+αT-d7W+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)1-H3HλW-d8H=1-X3Xρ-d1X-ηVXN3N+(k+d2)N3-k+d2NY3Y-k+d2kd3Y+k+d2kd3Y3+k+d2kμY3S+ηX3d4aY-ηX3d4aYV3V+ηV3X3+μ(k+d2)uk1-S3Sξ-d5S-k+d2kμYS3+μ(k+d2)ukθHS3-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHST3T+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)α+d6T3-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHSW3W-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)αTW3W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7W3-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)d7WH3H-μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H+μd7(k+d2)(d6+α)λuk(α+d6b)d8H3.

By using the steady-state conditions of ΔVH

ρ=d1X3+ηV3X3,ηV3X3=(k+d2)N3,kN3=d3Y3+μY3S3,aY3=d4V3,ξ=d5S3+θH3S3-uY3S3,1-bθH3S3=α+d6T3,bθH3S3=d7W3-αT3,λW3=d8H3,

we get

dϑ3dt=-d1XX-X32+ηV3X3-ηV3X3X3X-ηVXN3N+ηV3X3+ηX3d4a-k+d2kd3-k+d2kμS3Y-ηV3X3NY3N3Y+ηV3X3-k+d2kμY3S3+k+d2kμY3S-ηV3X3YV3Y3V+ηV3X3-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S32+μ(k+d2)ukθH3S3-μ(k+d2)ukθH3S3S3S-k+d2kμY3S3+k+d2kμY3S3S3S+μ(k+d2)ukθHS3-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHST3T+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S3-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHSW3W-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S3TW3T3W+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH3S3+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S3-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH3S3WH3W3H-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S3WH3W3H-μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθHS3-μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθHS3+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH3S3+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S3=-d1XX-X32-μd5(k+d2)ukSS-S32-k+d2kμY3S32-S3S-SS3+μ(k+d2)ukθH3S31-S3S+ηV3X34-X3X-XN3VX3NV3-NY3N3Y-YV3Y3V+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH3S32-SW3HS3WH3-WH3W3H+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S33-ST3HS3TH3-TW3T3W-WH3W3H=-d1XX-X32+μα(k+d2)uk(α+d6b)1-bθH3S34-S3S-ST3HS3TH3-TW3T3W-WH3W3H+ηV3X34-X3X-XN3VX3NV3-NY3N3Y-YV3Y3V+μ(k+d2)(d6+α)uk(α+d6b)bθH3S33-S3S-SW3HS3WH3-WH3W3H+μ(k+d2)(ud1d4+ad5η)aηukSS-S32aηθλuρkα+d6bk+d2aηd5+d1d4ud3θλα+d6b+μd7d8d6+α-1.

Since 1<R31+aηθλξα+d6bd7d8d6+α(aηd5+d1d4u) and using inequalities (4), (5) and (6) we get dϑ3dt0 for all X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H>0. Moreover, dϑ3dt=0 when X=X3, S=S3, N=N3, Y=Y3, V=V3, T=T3, W=W3 and H=H3. The solutions of model (1) converge to Υ3 the largest invariant subset of Υ3=X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H:dϑ3dt=0. Hence, Υ3=ΔVH and ΔVH is G.A.S using Lyapunov–LaSalle asymptotic stability theorem.

The global stability conditions of all steady states are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3.

Global stability conditions of the steady states of model (1)

Steady state Global stability conditions
Δ0=(X0,0,0,0,S0,0,0,0) R11 and R21
ΔH=(X1,0,0,0,S1,T1,W1,H1) R1>1 and R41
ΔV=X2,N2,Y2,V2,S2,0,0,0 R2>1 and R31
ΔVH=X3,N3,Y3,V3,S3,T3,W3,H3 R4>1 and 1<R31+aηθλξα+d6bd7d8d6+α(aηd5+d1d4u)

Numerical simulations

This section presents some numerical simulations to assist the results obtained in the previous parts. In addition, it shows the impact of low number of CD4+ T cells on SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection. Furthermore, it illustrates the effect of death rates during the latency periods on viral loads. To achieve these goals, we consider three sets of initial conditions as follows:

Set 1 X(0)=5, N(0)=0.0001, Y(0)=0.0002, V(0)=0.0003, S(0)=100, T(0)=5, W(0)=10, H(0)=15.

Set 2 X(0)=10, N(0)=0.001, Y(0)=0.002, V(0)=0.003, S(0)=200, T(0)=10, W(0)=15, H(0)=20.

Set 3 X(0)=15, N(0)=0.002, Y(0)=0.003, V(0)=0.004, S(0)=300, T(0)=15, W(0)=20, H(0)=25.

The selection of these values is optional. Furthermore, it is divided into three sets to ensure that the global stability of the steady states is not affected by the choice of initial conditions. We use the MATLAB solver ode45 to solve system (1). According to the global stability of the steady states Δ0, ΔH, ΔV, and ΔVH in Theorems 14, we split the simulations into four cases. In these cases, we vary the values of η, μ, d4, and θ of model (1). The values of all other parameters are fixed and listed in Table 1. The four cases are given as follows:

  • (i)

    We take η=0.9, μ=1, d4=5.36, and θ=0.0001. The thresholds in this case are given by R1=0.4864<1 and R2=9.03×10-4<1. In harmony with Theorem 1, the steady state Δ0=(22.41,0,0,0,1000,0,0,0) is G.A.S (see Fig. 1). This is an optimal situation when the person does not have neither SARS-CoV-2 infection nor HIV infection.

  • (ii)

    We choose η=0.55, μ=1, d4=5.36, and θ=0.0016. This provides us with R1=7.7818>1 and R4=0.0043<1. According to Theorem 2, the steady state ΔH=(22.41,0,0,0,128.505,11.88,16.95,42.39) is G.A.S (see Fig. 2). This point represents the case when a person has HIV infection with low CD4+ T cell counts, while SARS-CoV-2 infection is not detected.

  • (iii)

    We select η=2.9, μ=0.02, d4=0.03, and θ=0.0001. This gives R2=25.8471>1 and R3=0.4916<1. In this case, the solutions globally converge to the steady state ΔV=(0.876,0.0053,0.0011,0.0085,1010.71,0,0,0). This result agrees with Theorem 3 and is displayed in Fig. 3. This case represents a person with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but he does not have HIV disease.

  • (iv)

    We consider η=2.9, μ=0.02, d4=0.1, and θ=0.0016. This implies that R3=7.8541>1, R3<1+aηθλξα+d6bd7d8d6+α(aηd5+d1d4u)=8.7707, and R4=58.1828>1. In harmony with Theorem 4, the steady state ΔVH=(0.385,0.0054,0.0082,0.02,128.505,12.028,17.16,42.89) is G.A.S (see Fig. 4). In this situation, SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection occurs, where an HIV patient gets infected with COVID-19. CD4+ T cells are stimulated to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 infection from the body. Nevertheless, if the patient has low CD4+ T cell counts, the clearance of SARS-CoV-2 may not be achieved. This can lead to severe infection and death.

    For further verification of the asymptotic stability of ΔVH, we calculate the Jacobian matrix of model (1) at the steady state Δ=(X,N,Y,V,S,T,W,H) as
    J(Δ)=-d1-ηV00-ηX0000ηV-k-d20ηX00000k-d3-μS0-μY00000a-d4000000uS0uY-d5-θH00-θS0000(1-b)θH-d6-α0(1-b)θS0000bθHα-d7bθS000000λ-d8.
    Next, we calculate the eigenvalues Lj (j=1,2,,8) of the Jacobian matrix at all possible steady states. For asymptotic stability of ΔVH, we need to prove that
    Re(Lj)<0,for allj=1,2,,8,
    and all other steady states have eigenvalues with positive real parts. The computations are organized in Table 4.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

The numerical simulations of model (1) for η=0.9, μ=1, d4=5.36, and θ=0.0001 with three different sets of initial conditions. The uninfected steady state Δ0=(22.41,0,0,0,1000,0,0,0) is G.A.S

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

The numerical simulations of model (1) for η=0.55, μ=1, d4=5.36, and θ=0.0016 with three different sets of initial conditions. The single HIV–infection steady state ΔH=(22.41,0,0,0,128.505,11.88,16.95,42.39) is G.A.S

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

The numerical simulations of model (1) for η=2.9, μ=0.02, d4=0.03, and θ=0.0001 with three different sets of initial conditions. The single SARS-CoV-2–infection steady state ΔV=(0.876,0.0053,0.0011,0.0085,1010.71,0,0,0) is G.A.S

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

The numerical simulations of model (1) for η=2.9, μ=0.02, δ=0.1, and θ=0.0016 with three different sets of initial conditions. The SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection steady state ΔVH=(0.385,0.0054,0.0082,0.02,128.505,12.028,17.16,42.89) is G.A.S

Table 4.

Local stability of the steady state ΔVH

Case The steady sates Re(Lj), j=1,2,8 Stability
(iv) Δ0=(22.41,0,0,0,1000,0,0,0) (− 19.907, − 4.94688, − 3.70454, 1.29544, 0.562873, − 0.310899, − 0.01, − 0.001) Unstable
ΔH=(22.41,0,0,0,128.505,11.88,16.95,42.39) (− 4.46776, − 4.46776, − 2.37868, 2.07443 , − 0.340978, − 0.0390795, − 0.0390795, − 0.001) Unstable
ΔV=(2.918,0.005,00096,0.0023,1009.69,0,0,0) (− 20.2784, − 4.20655, − 3.71538, 1.30623, − 0.310848, − 0.00380659, − 0.00380659, − 0.00987671) Unstable
ΔVH=(0.385,0.0054,0.0082,0.02,128.505,12.03,17.16,42.89) (− 3.81897, − 3.04464, − 2.3788, − 0.340867, − 0.0395697, − 0.0395697, − 0.0273365, − 0.0273365) Stable

The effect of the CD4+ T cells killing rate

To check the impact of changing the value of μ on the stability of model (1), we take the same values used in case (iv) (η=2.9, d4=0.1, and θ=0.0016) with increasing the value of μ from 0.02 to 1.5. It follows that R1=7.7818>1 and R4=0.8085<1. Thus, the steady state ΔH=(22.41,0,0,0,128.505,11.88,16.95,42.39) is G.A.S. Mathematically, increasing the value of μ switches the value of R4 from R4=58.183>1 to R4=0.8085<1. This means that there is a bifurcation at R4=1. Accordingly, the steady state ΔVH becomes unstable and ΔH becomes G.A.S.

In addition, to characterize the effect of increasing or decreasing the value of μ on the number of actively infected epithelial cells and SARS-CoV-2 particles, we examine case (iv) with different values of μ (Fig. 5). We find out that decreasing the value of μ increases the concentration of actively infected epithelial cells and, accordingly, the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 particles is increased. On the other hand, increasing the value of μ decreases SARS-CoV-2 viral load.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

The effect of decreasing μ on the concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 particles V(t). The parameters considered are η=2.9, d4=0.1, and θ=0.0016 with initial conditions (X(0),N(0),Y(0),V(0),S(0),T(0),W(0),H(0))=5,0.0001,0.0002,0.0003,100,5,10,15

Biologically, these results imply that high killing rate μ of CD4+ T cells is needed to remove SARS-CoV-2 from the body of HIV patient. Conversely, low killing rates can cause severe SARS-CoV-2 infection for HIV patient.

The effect of latency

To see the effect of the eclipse phase on the production of SARS-CoV-2 particles, we take the same values considered in case (iv) with increasing the value of d2. We observe from Fig. 6a that increasing the death rate of latently infected epithelial cells decreases the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 particles in coinfected patients. Similarly, increasing the death rate (d6) of latently infected CD4+ T cells decreases the density of HIV particles (See Fig. 6b). Thus, the death rates during the latency periods can have a strong impact on the viral loads.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

The effect of increasing the death rates during the latency periods on SARS-CoV-2 and HIV particles. The parameters considered are η=2.9, μ=0.02, and θ=0.0016 with initial conditions (X(0),N(0),Y(0),V(0),S(0),T(0),W(0),H(0))=5,0.0001,0.0002,0.0003,100,5,10,15

Discussion

In this paper, we developed a within-host SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection model that investigates the interactions between eight components: uninfected epithelial cells, latently infected epithelial cells, productively infected epithelial cells, SARS-CoV-2 particles, uninfected CD4+ T cells, latently infected CD4+ T cells, productively infected CD4+ T cells, and HIV particles. The model has four steady states as the following:

  1. The uninfected steady state Δ0 always exists. It is G.A.S when R11 and R21. This represents the healthy state when the person does not suffer from neither SARS-CoV-2 infection nor HIV infection.

  2. The HIV infection steady state ΔH is defined if R1>1, and it is G.A.S if R41. This represents the case of a patient carrying only HIV infection.

  3. The SARS-CoV-2–infection steady state ΔV is defined if R2>1, and it is G.A.S if R31. This represents the case of a patient carrying only SARS-CoV-2 infection.

  4. The SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection steady state ΔVH is defined and G.A.S if R4>1 and 1<R31+aηθλξα+d6bd7d8d6+α(aηd5+d1d4u). This case simulates the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients.

The numerical results are totally compatible with the theoretical results. We found that decreasing the killing rate (μ) of CD4+ T cells increases the concentrations of both productively infected epithelial cells and SARS-CoV-2 particles. This implies that low CD4+ T cell counts can increase the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. This result comes in agreement with many results that discussed that HIV patients with low CD4+ T cell counts or who do not receive ART are at higher risk of death when they get infected by SARS-CoV-2. In addition, we observed that increasing the death rate (d2) of infected epithelial cells during the latency period decreases SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the body. Increasing d2 means that more cells will die in the eclipse phase before converting into productively infected cells. This can have a positive effect on reducing the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV patients. Comparing with previous studies, the model considered in this work is the first model that takes into consideration the coinfection of HIV with SAR-CoV-2. The results obtained in this paper can be examined and used to (i) understand SARS-CoV-2/HIV coinfection, (ii) estimate the values of the parameters that are needed to clear SARS-CoV-infection from the body of HIV patient, (iii) test the effect of increasing the killing rate (μ) on SARS-CoV-2 viral load, and (iv) examine the effect of death rates during the latency periods on the concentrations of viral particles. The main limitation of this work is that we did not use real data due to its unavailability. Therefore, these results can be examined when more data become available.

The model studied in this paper can be improved by considering the effect of time delays that are associated with many biological processes. Furthermore, adding the effect of treatments may lead to the important results that can help to find treatments for this group of patients. In addition, the coinfection dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and HIV can be studied within a multiscale approach [41, 42] which can provide a deeper understanding and help develop vaccines and antiviral therapies. Finally, the results can be developed by using real data to find an accurate estimation of the parameters of model (1).

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, under grant No. (D-74-130-1443). The authors, therefore, gratefully acknowledge the DSR technical and financial support.

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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