Network patterns in exponentially growing two-dimensional biofilms

Abstract

Anisotropic collective patterns occur frequently in the morphogenesis of 2D biofilms. These patterns are often attributed to growth regulation mechanisms and differentiation based on gradients of diffusing nutrients and signalling molecules. Here, we employ a model of bacterial growth dynamics to show that even in the absence of growth regulation or differentiation, confinement by an enclosing medium such as agar can itself lead to stable pattern formation over time scales that are employed in experiments. The underlying mechanism relies on path formation through physical deformation of the enclosing environment.

In-silico modeling of early-stage biofilm formation

“…In the early-stage formation in which the biofilm is essentially two-dimensional, we do not expect diffusion of nutrients to be sensibly affected by the forming biofilm. Indeed, experimental results suggest that the growth rate in the interior and the periphery of a biofilm are comparable [32].…”

A mechanistic understanding of microcolony morphogenesis: coexistence of mobile and sessile aggregates

“…[27][28][29][30][31][32] Besides, many theoretical and computational models were developed to capture various aspects of the construction of biofilm-like multicellular organization. 22,23,[33][34][35][36][37][38] Majority of these models followed continuum-based approaches. For example, how EPS contributes to the biofilm expansions and heterogeneous patterning are discussed in 28,[39][40][41] with continuum-based models.…”

Interplay of cell motility and self-secreted extracellular polymeric substance induced depletion effects on spatial patterning in a growing microbial colony

“…Bacteria are a well-known example of living active matter that exhibit a variety of complex morphodynamics in their lifestyles. They can show a broad spectrum of nonequilibrium collective phenomena, such as patterned colonies, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] biofilm formation, [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] swarming, and turbulent motions, [17][18][19][20][21] depending on the species and environmental conditions. The interplay of growth, division, motions, and local interactions of individual components plays a crucial role in controlling such phenomena.…”