Researchers develop computer model of bacterial colony interactions
Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 08:30
in Biology & Nature
(Phys.org)—One of the remarkable properties of bacterial colonies is the self-ordering aggregation and orientation of bacterial cells. Bacteria secrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that form biofilm-like structures in which the cells aggregate. Due to the density of such systems, researchers have speculated that the high degree of order manifested by colonies is due to specific mechanical interactions between the cells and the biofilm matrix.