Conditions for Chemotactic Aggregation

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which micro-organisms aggregate via chemotaxis, analyzing a model that incorporates intracellular dynamics, random walks, and attractant secretion, revealing phase behaviors and aggregation properties.

Contribution

It introduces a numerical model combining intracellular dynamics, state-dependent movement, and secretion to analyze chemotactic aggregation phases and conditions.

Findings

Identified three distinct aggregation phases.

Cluster size is independent of cell density.

Conditions for cellular aggregation were characterized.

Abstract

Micro-organisms aggregate through chemotaxis against a concentration gradient of signals secreted by themselves. We have numerically studied a model consisting of elements with intracellular dynamics, random walks with a state-dependent turnover rate, and secretion of attractant. Three phases with and without aggregation, as well as partial aggregation, were obtained as to the diffusion and decomposition rates of the attractant, and conditions for cellular aggregation were analyzed. The size of aggregated clusters was shown to be independent of cell density, as is consistent with experiment.