full
search.png

Search

close.png

Cancel

arrow
Volume 31, Issue 1
Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces

Ana Carpio & Rafael González-Albaladejo

DOI: 10.4208/cicp.OA-2021-0039

Commun. Comput. Phys., 31 (2022), pp. 257-292.

Published online: 2021-12

Preview Full PDF 2833 39305

Cited by

google scholar semantic scholar
Export citation
  • Abstract

We propose a computational model to study the growth and spread of bacterial biofilms on interfaces, as well as the action of antibiotics on them. Bacterial membranes are represented by boundaries immersed in a fluid matrix and subject to interaction forces. Growth, division and death of bacterial cells follow dynamic energy budget rules, in response to variations in environmental concentrations of nutrients, toxicants and substances released by the cells. In this way, we create, destroy and enlarge boundaries, either spherical or rod-like. Appropriate forces represent details of the interaction between cells, and the interaction with the environment. We can investigate geometrical arrangements and the formation of porous structures. Numerical simulations illustrate the evolution of top views and diametral slices of small biofilm seeds, as well as the action of antibiotics. We show that cocktails of antibiotics targeting active and dormant cells can entirely eradicate a biofilm.

  • Keywords

Hybrid multiscale models, immersed boundary methods, dynamic energy budget models, bacterial biofilm, antibiotic resistance.

  • AMS Subject Headings

87.18.Fx, 87.17.Aa, 87.18.Hf, 87.64.Aa

  • Copyright

COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

  • Email address

ana carpio@mat.ucm.es ( Ana Carpio)

  • BibTex
  • RIS
  • TXT
@Article{CiCP-31-257, author = {Ana Carpio , and González-Albaladejo , Rafael}, title = {Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces}, journal = {Communications in Computational Physics}, year = {2021}, volume = {31}, number = {1}, pages = {257--292}, abstract = {

We propose a computational model to study the growth and spread of bacterial biofilms on interfaces, as well as the action of antibiotics on them. Bacterial membranes are represented by boundaries immersed in a fluid matrix and subject to interaction forces. Growth, division and death of bacterial cells follow dynamic energy budget rules, in response to variations in environmental concentrations of nutrients, toxicants and substances released by the cells. In this way, we create, destroy and enlarge boundaries, either spherical or rod-like. Appropriate forces represent details of the interaction between cells, and the interaction with the environment. We can investigate geometrical arrangements and the formation of porous structures. Numerical simulations illustrate the evolution of top views and diametral slices of small biofilm seeds, as well as the action of antibiotics. We show that cocktails of antibiotics targeting active and dormant cells can entirely eradicate a biofilm.

}, issn = {1991-7120}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.OA-2021-0039}, url = {http://global-sci.org/intro/article_detail/cicp/20024.html} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces AU - Ana Carpio , AU - González-Albaladejo , Rafael JO - Communications in Computational Physics VL - 1 SP - 257 EP - 292 PY - 2021 DA - 2021/12 SN - 31 DO - http://doi.org/10.4208/cicp.OA-2021-0039 UR - https://global-sci.org/intro/article_detail/cicp/20024.html KW - Hybrid multiscale models, immersed boundary methods, dynamic energy budget models, bacterial biofilm, antibiotic resistance. AB -

We propose a computational model to study the growth and spread of bacterial biofilms on interfaces, as well as the action of antibiotics on them. Bacterial membranes are represented by boundaries immersed in a fluid matrix and subject to interaction forces. Growth, division and death of bacterial cells follow dynamic energy budget rules, in response to variations in environmental concentrations of nutrients, toxicants and substances released by the cells. In this way, we create, destroy and enlarge boundaries, either spherical or rod-like. Appropriate forces represent details of the interaction between cells, and the interaction with the environment. We can investigate geometrical arrangements and the formation of porous structures. Numerical simulations illustrate the evolution of top views and diametral slices of small biofilm seeds, as well as the action of antibiotics. We show that cocktails of antibiotics targeting active and dormant cells can entirely eradicate a biofilm.

Ana Carpio , and González-Albaladejo , Rafael. (2021). Immersed Boundary Approach to Biofilm Spread on Surfaces. Communications in Computational Physics. 31 (1). 257-292. doi:10.4208/cicp.OA-2021-0039
Copy to clipboard
BibteX RIS TXT
The citation has been copied to your clipboard