Biofilm viscoelasticity and nutrient source location control biofilm growth rate, migration rate, and morphology in shear flow.

ABSTRACT: We present a numerical model to simulate the growth and deformation of a viscoelastic biofilm in shear flow under different nutrient conditions. The mechanical interaction between the biofilm and the fluid is computed using the Immersed Boundary Method with viscoelastic parameters determined a priori from measurements reported in the literature. Biofilm growth occurs at the biofilm-fluid interface by a stochastic rule that depends on the local nutrient concentration. We compare the growth, migration, and morphology of viscoelastic biofilms with a common relaxation time of 18 min over the range of elastic moduli 10-1000 Pa in different nearby nutrient source configurations. Simulations with shear flow and an upstream or a downstream nutrient source indicate that soft biofilms grow more if n

SUBMITTER: Nguyen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8352988 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature