SKM 2023 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 11: Poster Session I

BP 11.2: Poster

Dienstag, 28. März 2023, 12:30–15:30, P1

A study of bacteria entrapment using multiparticle collision dynamics — •Pierre Martin and Holger Stark — Technische Universität, Berlin, Germany

The purpose of the current study is to investigate entrapment of bacteria near surfaces. Mechanisms to control trapping of bacteria near solid surfaces is of utmost interest to many medical and biotechnological applications. Trapping leads to enhanced attachement, facilitates the proliferation of cells and ultimately the formation of bacterial biofilms on the surface. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) propel themselves by rotating a bundle of helical flagella. They can change direction by reversing the rotation of a flagella, a process known as tumbling. The motion of bacteria near surfaces induces hydrodynamic interactions with the substract, aligning the cell almost parallel to the surface. This creates an attractive force from the bacteria to the surface, moving and trapping the bacteria along it.

We currently implement a realistic model of E. coli including its tumbling motion within a computer code where we couple it to fluid flow at low Reynolds numbers. The fluid flow is simulated using the method of multi-particle collision dynamics, an efficient solver of the Navier-Stokes equations. Our first goal is to simulate non-tumbling numerical strain of E.coli under shear flow. We will analyse the importance of rheotaxis and Jefferey orbits for near surfaces motility and trapping.