Seeding Dispersal Modeling For Systems of Planar Microbial Biofilms

TL;DR

This paper introduces a modeling approach to predict how mature biofilms disperse and colonize new surfaces, aiding understanding and control of biofilm spread in various applications.

Contribution

A novel modeling framework for predicting satellite colony formation and growth in dispersing biofilms, validated by experimental results.

Findings

Model successfully predicts biofilm dispersal patterns.

Experimental validation supports model accuracy.

Framework enables future detailed sub-model development.

Abstract

We propose a modeling approach to study how mature biofilms spread and colonize new surfaces by predicting the formation and growth of satellite colonies generated by dispersing biofilms. This model provides the basis for better understanding the fate and behavior of dispersal cells, phenomenon that cannot, as yet, be predicted from knowledge of the genome. The model results were promising as supported by the experimental results. The proposed approach allows for further improvements through more detailed sub-models for front propagation, seeding, availability and depletion of resources. The present study was a successful proof-of-concept in answering the following questions: Can we predict the colonization of new sites following biofilm dispersal? Can we generate patterns in space and time to shed light on seeding dispersal? That are fundamental issues for developing novel approaches to manipulate biofilm formation in industrial, environmental and medical applications.