Biofilm Growth and Patterns

Biofilms are complex microbial colonies that adhere to surfaces. Cells in a biofilm adhere to each other and reside within a self-produced viscous fluid matrix. Since biofilms are highly resistant to antimicrobial therapy, they are the primary cause of long-term bacterial and fungal infections. My research involves derivation, analysis, and numerical solutions of mathematical models for biofilm growth, to better understand interactions between cells, fluid, and nutrients. Modelling approaches range from phenomenological reaction–diffusion systems, to mechanically-derived thin-film fluid models.

Collaborators

• Ben Binder
• Ed Green
• Danny Netherwood
• Jennie Gardner
• Campbell Gourlay
• Allison Cowin
• Zlatko Kopecki
• Brendan Harding
• Hayden Tronnolone
• Ee Lin Tek
• Jo Sundstrom
• Vladimir Jiranek

Key Publications

• A thin-film extensional flow model for biofilm expansion by sliding motility, Proc. Royal Soc. A (2019)
• Thin-film lubrication model for biofilm expansion under strong adhesion, Phys. Rev. E (2022)
• Nutrient-limited growth with non-linear cell diffusion as a mechanism for floral pattern formation in yeast biofilms, J. Theor. Biol. (2018)
• Diffusion-limited growth of microbial colonies, Sci. Rep. (2018)