When certain types ofbacteria adhere to the surface of objects in a moist environment, they excrete a slimy glue-like substance.
The biofilms are unpleasant and unattractive, but they can be serious problems. The formation of biofilm can affect the effectiveness of antibiotics. Understanding the behavior ofbacteria is the key to understanding the formation ofbiomass.
A mathematical model for the motion ofbacteria is presented in a new paper by Davide Breoni and his co-authors.
A link between biophysics and statistical physics was created by the team.
A lot of interest in statistical physics is encountered by a class of models for active matter. The field studies particle systems that have their own energy source.
The model created by the team suggests thatbacteria can act as a unit.
Breoni says that the model predicts that the formation of colonies can occur through the build up of waves. We did not think this would happen from our model.
He thinks that the results will be interesting to the general public who may not know how a colony moves.
The model suggested by Breoni is very easy to use. We could try to make the model more realistic and see if it works. This research is very much curiosity-driven and results from intense discussions among the researchers so we can continue to surprise ourselves with our findings.
A one-dimensional three-state run-and-tumble model with a 'cell cycle' is described in The European Physical Journal E. DOI: 10140/epje/s10189.
Journal information: European Physical Journal E
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