The Influence of Fluid Flow on Modeling Quorum Sensing in Bacterial Biofilms

Benjamin L. Vaughan, Bryan G. Smith, David L. Chopp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this paper, we study quorum sensing in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Quorum sensing is a process where bacteria monitor their population density through the release of extra-cellular signalling molecules. The presence of these molecules affects gene modulation leading to changes in behaviour such as the release of virulence factors. Here, we use numerical methods to approximate a 2-D model of quorum sensing. It is observed that the shape of the biofilm can have a profound effect on the onset of quorum sensing. This has serious repercussions for experimental observations since biofilms of the same biomass but different shapes can produce quite different results.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1143-1165
Number of pages23
JournalBulletin of Mathematical Biology
Volume72
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2010

Keywords

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms
  • Quorum sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Immunology
  • Mathematics(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Pharmacology
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
  • Computational Theory and Mathematics

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