Integrating Molecular Pathogenesis and Host Response into a Digital Twin Framework for Predicting Therapeutic Outcomes in <i>Balamuthia mandrillaris</i> Encephalitis

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba that causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a rare but devastating central nervous system infection with mortality exceeding 95%. Treatment relies on empirical, multidrug regimens lasting several months, yet prognostic indicators and optimal dosing strategies remain undefined. Advances in computational biology now permit the creation of digital twins, data-driven and patient-specific virtual replicas that integrate clinical, imaging, molecular, and pharmacological data to simulate disease dynamics and therapeutic response. By incorporating molecular mechanisms of Balamuthia pathogenesis and host susceptibility into such a model, it becomes possible to forecast treatment trajectories, personalize drug dosing, and predict toxicity in real time. This paper outlines the molecular and immunological underpinnings of Balamuthia infection and proposes a digital twin framework that bridges mechanistic biology with predictive analytics to improve management and survival in this neglected infection.

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Publication Details

Journal
ACS Omega
Published
2026-03-26
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c11417
Primary Topic
Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Integrating Molecular Pathogenesis and Host Response into a Digital Twin Framework for Predicting Therapeutic Outcomes in Balamuthia mandrillaris Encephalitis

Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Sutherland K. Maciver
ACS Omega
Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
article

Integrating Molecular Pathogenesis and Host Response into a Digital Twin Framework for Predicting Therapeutic Outcomes in Balamuthia mandrillaris Encephalitis

Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan, Sutherland K. Maciver
article en

Abstract

Balamuthia mandrillaris is a free-living amoeba that causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a rare but devastating central nervous system infection with mortality exceeding 95%. Treatment relies on empirical, multidrug regimens lasting several months, yet prognostic indicators and optimal dosing strategies remain undefined. Advances in computational biology now permit the creation of digital twins, data-driven and patient-specific virtual replicas that integrate clinical, imaging, molecular, and pharmacological data to simulate disease dynamics and therapeutic response. By incorporating molecular mechanisms of Balamuthia pathogenesis and host susceptibility into such a model, it becomes possible to forecast treatment trajectories, personalize drug dosing, and predict toxicity in real time. This paper outlines the molecular and immunological underpinnings of Balamuthia infection and proposes a digital twin framework that bridges mechanistic biology with predictive analytics to improve management and survival in this neglected infection.

ACS Omega
University of Derby (GB), Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (MY), Department of Physics, Mathematics and Informatics (BY), Istinye University (TR), The Queen's Medical Research Institute (GB), University of Edinburgh (GB)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
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Integrating Molecular Pathogenesis and Host Response into a Digital Twin Framework for Predicting Therapeutic Outcomes in <i>Balamuthia mandrillaris</i> Encephalitis — Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan, et al. · ACS Omega (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS