Computer simulation study of early bacterial biofilm development

Abstract

Most bacteria form organized sessile communities, known as biofilms. Their ubiquity and relevance have stimulated the development of efficient mathematical models able to predict biofilm evolution and characteristics at different conditions. Here we present a study of the early stages of bacterial biofilm formation modeled by means of individual cell-based computer simulation. Simulation showed that clusters with different degrees of internal and orientational order were formed as a function of the aspect ratio of the individual particles and the relation between the diffusion and growth rates. Analysis of microscope images of early biofilm formation by the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas putida at varying diffusion rates revealed a good qualitative agreement with the simulation results. Our model is a good predictor of microcolony morphology during early biofilm development, showing that the competition between diffusion and growth rates is a key aspect in the formation of stable biofilm microcolonies.