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Main Authors: Santos-Díaz, Gabriel, Rodríguez-Rivas, Álvaro, Cuetos, Alejandro
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23998
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author Santos-Díaz, Gabriel
Rodríguez-Rivas, Álvaro
Cuetos, Alejandro
author_facet Santos-Díaz, Gabriel
Rodríguez-Rivas, Álvaro
Cuetos, Alejandro
contents This study explores the application of elongated particle interaction models, traditionally used in liquid crystal phase research, in the context of early bacterial biofilm development. Through computer simulations using an agent-based model, we have investigated the possibilities and limitations of modeling biofilm formation and growth using different models for interaction between bacteria, such as the Hertz model, Soft Repulsive Spherocylindrical (SRS) model, and attractive Kihara model. Our approach focuses on understanding how mechanical forces due to the interaction between cells, in addition to growth and diffusive parameters, influence the formation of complex bacterial communities. By comparing such force models, we evaluate their impact on the structural properties of bacterial microcolonies. The results indicate that, although the specific force model has some effect on biofilm properties, the intensity of the interaction between bacteria is the most important determinant. This study highlights the importance of properly selecting interaction strength in simulations to obtain realistic representations of biofilm growth, and suggests which adapted models of rod-shaped bacterial systems may offer a valid approach to study the dynamics of complex biofilms.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_23998
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Relevance of the Computational Models of Bacterial Interactions in the simulation of Biofilm Growth
Santos-Díaz, Gabriel
Rodríguez-Rivas, Álvaro
Cuetos, Alejandro
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
This study explores the application of elongated particle interaction models, traditionally used in liquid crystal phase research, in the context of early bacterial biofilm development. Through computer simulations using an agent-based model, we have investigated the possibilities and limitations of modeling biofilm formation and growth using different models for interaction between bacteria, such as the Hertz model, Soft Repulsive Spherocylindrical (SRS) model, and attractive Kihara model. Our approach focuses on understanding how mechanical forces due to the interaction between cells, in addition to growth and diffusive parameters, influence the formation of complex bacterial communities. By comparing such force models, we evaluate their impact on the structural properties of bacterial microcolonies. The results indicate that, although the specific force model has some effect on biofilm properties, the intensity of the interaction between bacteria is the most important determinant. This study highlights the importance of properly selecting interaction strength in simulations to obtain realistic representations of biofilm growth, and suggests which adapted models of rod-shaped bacterial systems may offer a valid approach to study the dynamics of complex biofilms.
title Relevance of the Computational Models of Bacterial Interactions in the simulation of Biofilm Growth
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.23998