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not only that the model is sensible enough to any kind of validation test but also
that it is ready to be used to test HAART therapy as we expect to do in the near
future.
8.5 Conclusions
We presented some general concepts about mathematical modeling of the immune
system. We focused on those models that resort to the discrete representation of time
and space. Then we introduced the model that we currently use to study the HIV
infection in order to show how a computational model can both reproduce what is
known about the dynamics of a biological phenomenon and then make predictions
about other aspects that cannot be easily measured or observed in clinical experi-
ments. In this way we tried to give an idea of how mathematical/computer modeling
can help biologists to understand all the aspects of a disease and provide indications
to clinicians about a possible therapy. Hopefully, a closer collaboration among
mathematicians, computer scientists, and biologists, along with the availability of
large clinical datasets, will enhance the understanding of diseases and suggest new
drug discoveries and/or therapeutic regimens.
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