Biofilm Modeling

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Dockery9805701 The investigator develops differential equation models tostudy heterogeneous biofilms in fluid-saturated porous media.The underlying question is how biofilm interactions affectspatial heterogeneities in the biofilm. Of specific interest arecauses of observed heterogeneities, whether heterogeneity ispurely a hydrodynamic effect, whether cell-cell communicationthrough chemical signaling can be responsible for some of theheterogeneity, and whether species competition can be acontributing factor in the observed roughness of the film. Themathematical approach involves one- and two-space-dimensionalmodels, the development of analytical techniques, andcomputational studies. In the project the investigatorcollaborates with experimentalists at the Center for BiofilmEngineering and shares mentoring of students with members of theCenter. Understanding the variations in biofilm form andstructure will clarify the important issues of transport andchemistry within the biofilm. In the vernacular, a biofilm might be called slime orsludge. A biofilm is a film of microorganisms that accumulates onthe surface of an object in a flowing fluid environment. Themicroorganisms secrete polymers outside their own body cells,which anchor the cells to each other and to the surfaces on whichthe film forms. Biofilms can clog pipes, foul the hulls ofships, corrode steel, sour oil fields, or cause infections bygrowing on host tissues or medical implants. Because of theirpervasive effects on water quality, power generation, energyefficiency, and product quality, their negative effect is felt inmost U.S. industries. Not all biofilm activity has negativeresults. They can also break down contaminants in water or soiland often are used for bioremediation. The potential of biofilmprocess control has yet been fully realized due in part to a lackof fundamental knowledge of biofilm form and structure. Recentexperiments have shown that biofims are not so uniform instructure as once thought. In this project, the investigatordevelops mathematical models of biofilms to study heterogeneityin biofilms. Understanding the variations in biofilm structurewill lead to understanding issues of chemistry and transport inthe biofilm: how the biofilm grows and what it can do. Hecollaborates with experimentalists at the Center for BiofilmEngineering and shares mentoring of students with members of theCenter.