Modeling local interactions during the motion of cyanobacteria

Authored by Doron Levy, Amanda Galante, Susanne Wisen, Devaki Bhaya

Date Published: 2012-09-21

DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2012.06.013

Sponsors: Carnegie Institution of Science United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) United States National Science Foundation (NSF)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Synechocystis sp., a common unicellular freshwater cyanobacterium, has been used as a model organism to study phototaxis, an ability to move in the direction of a light source. This microorganism displays a number of additional characteristics such as delayed motion, surface dependence, and a quasi-random motion, where cells move in a seemingly disordered fashion instead of in the direction of the light source, a global force on the system. These unexplained motions are thought to be modulated by local interactions between cells such as intercellular communication. In this paper, we consider only local interactions of these phototactic cells in order to mathematically model this quasi-random motion. We analyze an experimental data set to illustrate the presence of quasi-random motion and then derive a stochastic dynamic particle system modeling interacting phototactic cells. The simulations of our model are consistent with experimentally observed phototactic motion. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tags

Agent-based models Group dynamics Cell-motility Cyanobacteria