An efficient and flexible generalization of transit compartment models for delayed biological processes.

We have previously analyzed a hypoexponential generalization of the linear chain technique. This method approximates gamma-distributed delay differential equations (DDEs) and can be useful in parameter estimation settings, as the number of compartments used in the linear chain trick (the shape parameter of the Gamma distribution) is replaced by a real valued number instead of an integer. While we previously used synthetic data to demonstrate this, here we apply the method to three published datasets and models that highlight and investigate the importance of non-exponential waiting times in biological dynamical systems. The subjects are (1) the eclipse phase in SHIV virion production, (2) The generation time in lymphocyte proliferation (using CFSE labeling experiments), and (3) chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.

Recommended citation: Belluccini, G. et al. (2026). "An efficient and flexible generalization of transit compartment models for delayed biological processes." arXiv.
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