The role of fluid friction in streamer formation and biofilm growth
Fuente:
arXiv
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866917917016195072 |
|---|---|
| author | Wittig, Cornelius Wagner, Michael Vallon, Romain Crouzier, Thomas van der Wijngaart, Wouter Horn, Harald Bagheri, Shervin |
| author_facet | Wittig, Cornelius Wagner, Michael Vallon, Romain Crouzier, Thomas van der Wijngaart, Wouter Horn, Harald Bagheri, Shervin |
| contents | Bacillus subtilis biofilms were grown in laminar channel flow at wall shear stress spanning one order of magnitude ($τ_w = 0.068$ Pa to $τ_w = 0.67$ Pa). We monitor, non-invasively, the evolution of the three-dimensional distribution of biofilm over seven days using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The obtained biofilms consist of many microcolonies where the characteristic colony has a base structure in the form of a leaning pillar and a streamer in the form of a thin filament that originates near the tip of the pillar. While the shape, size and distribution of these microcolonies depend on the imposed shear stress, the same structural features appear consistently for all shear stress values. The formation of streamers seems to occur after the development of a base structure, suggesting that the latter induces a curved secondary flow that triggers the formation of the streamers. Moreover, we observe that the biofilm volume grows approximately linearly over seven days for all the shear stress values, with a growth rate that is inversely proportional to the wall shear stress. We develop a simple model of friction-limited growth, which agrees with the experimental observations. The model provides physical insight into growth mechanisms and can be used to develop accurate continuum models of bacterial biofilm growth. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2403_10545 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | The role of fluid friction in streamer formation and biofilm growth Wittig, Cornelius Wagner, Michael Vallon, Romain Crouzier, Thomas van der Wijngaart, Wouter Horn, Harald Bagheri, Shervin Soft Condensed Matter Fluid Dynamics Bacillus subtilis biofilms were grown in laminar channel flow at wall shear stress spanning one order of magnitude ($τ_w = 0.068$ Pa to $τ_w = 0.67$ Pa). We monitor, non-invasively, the evolution of the three-dimensional distribution of biofilm over seven days using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The obtained biofilms consist of many microcolonies where the characteristic colony has a base structure in the form of a leaning pillar and a streamer in the form of a thin filament that originates near the tip of the pillar. While the shape, size and distribution of these microcolonies depend on the imposed shear stress, the same structural features appear consistently for all shear stress values. The formation of streamers seems to occur after the development of a base structure, suggesting that the latter induces a curved secondary flow that triggers the formation of the streamers. Moreover, we observe that the biofilm volume grows approximately linearly over seven days for all the shear stress values, with a growth rate that is inversely proportional to the wall shear stress. We develop a simple model of friction-limited growth, which agrees with the experimental observations. The model provides physical insight into growth mechanisms and can be used to develop accurate continuum models of bacterial biofilm growth. |
| title | The role of fluid friction in streamer formation and biofilm growth |
| topic | Soft Condensed Matter Fluid Dynamics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.10545 |