DepartmentofMathematicalSciencesandCenterforBiolmEngineering, MontanaStateUniversity,Bozema.pdfVIP

Eect of Heterogenous Structure in MechanicallyUnstressed Biolms on Overall GrowthI. KlapperDepartment of Mathematical Sciences and Center for Biolm Engineering,Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717November 20, 2003Abstract: In contrast to their name, biolms are not always at and homogeneous but insteadoften exhibit complex structural heterogeneity. It has been suggested that non-homogeneousgeometry is selected in order to increase biolm growth rate. A previous study (Dockery andKlapper, 2002) of a model biolm system in a static bulk uid demonstrated that under somecircumstances a at biolm{bulk uid interface is linearly unstable to perturbation due togrowth induced forces. Computations indicated that subsequent non-linear evolution results inngers and mushrooms of biolm similar to structures observed in actual biolms. However, theimportant complementary issue of biological functionality was not considered. Here a weaklynonlinear analysis of the simple growing biolm layer model in Dockery and Klapper (2002) ispresented. It is argued that, at least in the case of biolms free of external mechanical stress,overall growth is in fact generally inhibited by the presence of growing perturbations in thelinear stage. Hence a more complex explanation of function is necessary. 1 IntroductionA biolm is a hydrated collection of micro-organisms concentrated together in a self-secretedmatrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Biolms are nearly ubiquitous in dampand wet environments, and, in fact, the majority of bacteria in natural and pathogenic systemsare located within biolm systems (Costerton et al., 1987, Costerton et al., 1999). Exam-ples include, among many others, pipe scum in water and industrial systems, dental plaque,algal mats, and waste-water treatment systems. Biolm presence has important medical conse-quences; they are responsible for chronic infections such as gum disease, recurring ear infections,lung infections in suerers of cys