Simulations of cell-target encounter incorporating chemotaxis effects: single and multiple cell-target simulations in two dimensions

Computer simulations of particle-target encounter in which there is a biased motion of the particles toward their targets are applied to the immune system. The authors´ earlier continuum models for encounter rates and dynamics have shown that a small degree of directedness in the cell´s motion can provide a substantial decrease in the encounter time. Encounter can be considered the rate-limiting step in the process of clearance of a bacterial infection in two dimensions by phagocytes. Computer simulations of cell-target encounter events were performed for the cases when a single cell encounters a single target, and when many cells and targets are present. The simulations were performed at varying values of chemotactic index (CI), a measure of the degree of chemotactic ability which takes into account both external environmental factors and intrinsic cell properties. The authors show simulation cell paths for four values of CI