Model parameters

This page provides a high-level summary of the simulation parameters types, format and definition used across the three models.

Please refer to each model's source documentation. The information provided here is indicative only and may not reflect the latest updates of each model.

EMOD: EMOD includes a large and detailed set of parameters that control vector biology, host immunity, climate effects, and simulation configuration. These parameters are mostly configured via JSON or campaign scripts.

malariasimulation: malariasimulation parameters are implemented in R and used to define host immunity, infection progression, and clinical outcomes. Emphasis is placed on age-structured immunity and probabilistic outcomes.

OpenMalaria: OpenMalaria parameters are implemented in XML.

EMOD

Example parameter names obtained from config.json.

Category Description Example Parameters
Climate & Environmental Governs temperature, rainfall, humidity, and seasonality effects Air_Temperature_Offset, Base_Rainfall, Climate_Model
Vector Biology Controls larval habitat, vector aging, migration, and mortality Enable_Vector_Aging, Vector_Sampling_Type, Egg_Hatch_Density_Dependence
Host Immunity Models maternal antibodies, immunity acquisition, and decay Enable_Maternal_Protection, Antibody_Memory_Level, Antibody_CSP_Decay_Days
Infection Dynamics Defines parameters for parasitemia, detectability, and transmission Fever_Severe_Threshold, Antigen_Switch_Rate, Simulated EIR
Mortality & Health Outcomes Parameters influencing severe disease and mortality Fever_Mortality_Threshold, Anemia_Mortality_Threshold
Simulation Configuration Core runtime and structural settings Simulation_Timestep, Start_Time, Serialized_Population_Writing_Type
Reporting Enables or disables built-in reporters and custom reports Enable_Default_Reporting, Custom_Reports_Filename
Demographics & Population Includes aging, birth/death processes, and risk profiles Enable_Birth, Demographics_Filenames, x_Base_Population

malariasimulation

Example parameter names obtained from get_parameters function to view defined parameters in the model. Note list not exhaustive, and indicative only.

Category Description Example Parameters
Fixed State Transitions Time lags between disease states du
Immunity Boost Grace Periods Time windows where immunity cannot be boosted again ub, uc, ud, uv
Immunity Decay Rates Decay of maternal or acquired immunity rm, rvm
Detection Probability Modifiers How age and immunity influence detectability of infection ad, d1, gammad
Infectivity Towards Mosquitoes Transmission potential depending on disease status cd, cu, gamma1
Probability of Clinical/Severe Disease Likelihood of clinical/severe cases given immunity and age ic0, phi0, theta0
Pre-erythrocytic Infection Probabilities Probability of initial infection post bite b0, ib0, kb
Mortality Parameters Influence of immunity on disease-related mortality pcm, pvm

OpenMalaria

Example parameter names and definitions obtained from OpenMalaria’s XML base file. Note table not exhaustive, and indicative only, a full table has been published in Reiker et al 2021

Category Description Example Parameters
Infection Success & Inoculation Defines probabilities of successful infection based on exposure '-ln(1-Sinf)', Estar, Xstar_p
Host Variability & Immunity Dynamics Describes host heterogeneity and maternal/immune decay sigma2i, decay_m, alpha
Cumulative Exposure Thresholds Thresholds for developing immunity or changing infection risk CumulativeYstar, CumulativeHstar
Density Bias & Detection Adjusts parasitemia thresholds and density measurements Density bias, Ystar1, Idete multiplier
Mortality Risk Factors Factors influencing case fatality and indirect mortality from comorbidities log oddsr CF community, Indirect risk cofactor, comorbidity intercept
Parasite Density & Immune Response Models the parasite dynamics and immune clearance rates Ystar half life, Immune effector decay, Asexual immunity decay