3-D Multi-Species Biofilm Models

F. Gao, X. Zhong, H. La, S. Krone, L. Forney

Model based on nutrient diffusion and energy allocation

(1)

(2) (3)

nutrient diffusion

Nutrient concentration in bulk liquid is set to be constant and normalized to 1.0;

Nutrient diffuses vertically through biofilm, from top down;

A site obtain nutrients diffusing from a cone-shaped region above the site

a site

Birth rate

Allows multiple nutrients Metabolism Effects of environment on growth rate

Nutrient Energy

1

2

3

Maintenance

Stress response

Growth

ATPConversioncoefficient

Placement of offspring Growth is suppressed if all

neighboring sites are occupied

Daughter cell placed at vacant direct neighbor chosen at random

If no direct neighbors available, 2nd direct neighbors considered

6 direct nbrs 26 2nd direct nbrs

6 direct nbrs 26 2nd direct nbrs

Death rate

Death rate increased if a cell fails to get enough energy for maintenance and stress response

Death rate is proportional to the gap between the energy demand & actual energy available

Collapse

Maximum thickness

Self regulationafterbefore

simulations

3 species: 2 aerobic and 1 anaerobic

2 aerobic species

2 species: 1 aerobic and 1 anaerobic

randomly initialized