Filaments in curved streamlines: Rapid formation of biofilm streamers.

Publication Year
2014

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Biofilms are surface-associated conglomerates of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics. These bacterial communities can cause chronic infections in humans by colonizing, for example, medical implants, heart valves, or lungs. , a notorious human pathogen, causes some of the most common biofilm-related infections. Despite the clinical importance of biofilms, it remains mostly unknown how physical effects, in particular flow, and surface structure influence biofilm dynamics. Here we use model microfluidic systems to investigate how environmental factors, such as surface geometry, surface chemistry, and fluid flow affect biofilm development in We discovered that rapidly forms flow-induced, filamentous biofilm streamers, and furthermore if surfaces are coated with human blood plasma, streamers appear within minutes and clog the channels more rapidly than if the channels are uncoated. To understand how biofilm streamer filaments reorient in flows with curved streamlines to bridge the distances between corners, we developed a mathematical model based on resistive force theory of slender filaments. Understanding physical aspects of biofilm formation in may lead to new approaches for interrupting biofilm formation of this pathogen.

Journal
New J Phys
Volume
16
Issue
6
Pages
065024
Date Published
2014 Jun 26
ISSN Number
1367-2630
Alternate Journal
New J Phys
PMCID
PMC4255984
PMID
25484614