Biofilm growth on rugose surfaces

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2012 Dec;86(6 Pt 1):061914. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.86.061914. Epub 2012 Dec 27.

Abstract

A stochastic model is used to assess the effect of external parameters on the development of submerged biofilms on smooth and rough surfaces. The model includes basic cellular mechanisms, such as division and spreading, together with an elementary description of the interaction with the surrounding flow and probabilistic rules for extracellular polymeric substance matrix generation, cell decay, and adhesion. Insight into the interplay of competing mechanisms such as the flow or the nutrient concentration change is gained. Erosion and growth processes combined produce biofilm structures moving downstream. A rich variety of patterns are generated: shrinking biofilms, patches, ripplelike structures traveling downstream, fingers, mounds, streamerlike patterns, flat layers, and porous and dendritic structures. The observed regimes depend on the carbon source and the type of bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
  • Biofilms*
  • Biophysics / methods*
  • Dendrites
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Porosity
  • Probability
  • Stochastic Processes
  • Surface Properties
  • Water Microbiology

Substances

  • Polymers