Combined influence of hydrodynamics and chemotaxis in the distribution of microorganisms around spherical nutrient sources
Authored by Nikhil Desai, Arezoo M Ardekani
Date Published: 2018
DOI: 10.1103/physreve.98.012419
Sponsors:
United States National Science Foundation (NSF)
Platforms:
No platforms listed
Model Documentation:
Other Narrative
Mathematical description
Model Code URLs:
Model code not found
Abstract
We study how the interaction between hydrodynamics and chemotaxis
affects the colonization of nutrient sources by microorganisms. We use
an individual-based model and perform probabilistic simulations to
ascertain the impact of important environmental and motility
characteristics on the spatial distribution of microorganisms around a
spherical nutrient source. In general, we unveil four distinct regimes
based on the distribution of the microorganisms: (i) strong surface
colonization, (ii) rotary-diffusion-induced ``off-surface{''}
accumulation, (iii) a depletion zone in the spatial distribution, and
(iv) no appreciable aggregation, with their occurrence being contingent
on the relative strengths of hydrodynamic and chemotactic effects. More
specifically, we show that the extent of surface colonization first
increases, then reaches a plateau, and finally decreases as the nutrient
availability is increased. We also show that surface colonization
reduces monotonically as the mean run length of the chemotactic
microorganisms increases. Our study provides insight into the interplay
of two important mechanisms governing microorganism behavior near
nutrient sources, isolates each of their effects, and thus offers
greater predictability of this nontrivial phenomenon.
Tags
Model
Bacterial chemotaxis
Mechanisms
Escherichia-coli
Motion
Biofilm formation
Interface
Particle
Predictions
Marine microorganisms
Biofilm
formation
Balance equation
Droplet breakup
Oil releases
Motile
algae
Hard-wall
Droplet
breakup