A Simulation Model of Biofilms with Autonomous Cells, 2 ‐ Explicit Representation of the Extracellular Polymeric Substance

Abstract

Biofilms are complex colonies of bacteria that grow in contact with a wall, often in the presence of a water flow. In the current work, biofilm colony growth is investigated using a two‐dimensional lattice Monte–Carlo algorithm based on the bond‐fluctuation algorithm (BFA). One of the distinguishing characteristics of biofilms, the synthesis and physical properties of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in which the cells are embedded, is explicitly taken into account. Cells are modeled as autonomous closed loops with well‐defined mechanical and biological properties, while the EPS is modeled as flexible polymeric chain synthesized by the cells during their growth. By tuning the structural, energy, biological, and morphologic parameters of the model, the cell shapes as well as the growth and maturation of various types of biofilm colonies (including colonies with multiple species) can be controlled.magnified image

Multiple scale model for cell migration in monolayers: Elastic mismatch between cells enhances motility

“…The effect of deformability of cells and vesicles has recently been studied in other contexts. Many of these studies were based on a beads-and-springs model for the cell shape and focused on red blood cells in capillaries2021, bacteria in biofilms2223 and tissue growth24. Such models complement recent Potts model studies of cell sorting25 and vertex model dynamical studies2627 of soft tissues.…”

Novel Simulation Approaches for Polymeric and Soft Matter Systems

“…The final paper of this issue deals with bacterial colonies. Tao and Slater [20] refine a previously introduced cellular model intended to mimic biofilm colony growth by including the modeling of the extracellular polymeric substance with the goal of describing those complex collectivities which are doubtless one of the most challenging topics covered in this special issue.…”