Biology subjects

Bukkuri, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Bukkuri, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Mathematical Modeling of Field Cancerization through the Lens of Cancer Behavioral Ecology

Field cancerization is a process in which a normal tissue is replaced with pre-cancerous but histologically normal tissue. This transformed field can give rise to malignancy and contribute to tumor relapse. In this paper, we create a mathematical model of field cancerization from the perspective of cancer behavioral ecology. In our model, field cancerization arises from a breakdown in signaling integrity and control, and investigate implications for acute wounding, chronic wounding, aging, and therapeutic interventions. We find that restoration of communication networks can lead to cancer regression in the context of acute injury. Conversely, long term loss of controls, such as through chronic wounding or aging, can promote oncogenesis. These results are paralleled in therapeutic interventions: those that simply target cells in cancerous states may be less effective than those that reestablish signaling integrity. Viewing cancer as a corruption of communication systems rather than as a corruption of individual cells may lead to novel approaches for understanding and treating this disease.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Modeling Stress-Induced Responses: Plasticity in Continuous State Space and Gradual Clonal Evolution

Mathematical models of cancer and bacterial evolution have generally stemmed from a gene-centric framework, assuming clonal evolution via acquisition of resistance-conferring mutations and selection of their corresponding subpopulations. More recently, the role of phenotypic plasticity has been recognized and models accounting for phenotypic switching between discrete cell states (e.g. epithelial and mesenchymal) have been developed. However, seldom do models incorporate both plasticity and mutationally-driven resistance, particularly when the state space is continuous and resistance evolves in a continuous fashion. In this paper, we develop a framework to model plastic and mutational mechanisms of acquiring resistance in a continuous, gradual fashion. We use this framework to examine ways in which cancer and bacterial populations can respond to stress and consider implications for therapeutic strategies. Although we primarily discuss our framework in the context of cancer and bacteria, it applies broadly to any system capable of evolving via plasticity and genetic evolution.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

On the Contribution of Reproductive and Offspring Investment on Fertility: Human and Animal Societies

Differences in investment into reproduction or offspring rearing are plentiful throughout the world, from the cells inside our bodies to complex sociological interactions among humans. Such differences can lead to profound impacts on species fitness, fertility, and reproductive rates, sometimes in startling ways. In this paper, we create a simple game-theoretical model to qualitatively investigate the effects of such differential investment. We focus on fertility in human societies and show that more wealthy individuals produce more offspring within a a mating group. However, when assortative mating mechanisms are introduced, this effectively leads to a speciation event, and a higher reproduction rate for poorer individuals is noticed, capturing what we call the "wealthy-to-poor switch". We discuss extensions and implications of this work to nupital gifts in ecology and to clonal competition in cancer cell lines under the influence of treatment.

ecology↗