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A 3D Motile Rod-Shaped Monotrichous Bacterial Model

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Abstract

We introduce a 3D model for a motile rod-shaped bacterial cell with a single polar flagellum which is based on the configuration of a monotrichous type of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The structure of the model bacterial cell consists of a cylindrical body together with the flagellar forces produced by the rotation of a helical flagellum. The rod-shaped cell body is composed of a set of immersed boundary points and elastic links. The helical flagellum is assumed to be rigid and modeled as a set of discrete points along the helical flagellum and flagellar hook. A set of flagellar forces are applied along this helical curve as the flagellum rotates. An additional set of torque balance forces are applied on the cell body to induce counter-rotation of the body and provide torque balance. The three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible fluid are used to describe the fluid dynamics of the coupled fluid–microorganism system using Peskin’s immersed boundary method. A study of numerical convergence is presented along with simulations of a single swimming cell, the hydrodynamic interaction of two cells, and the interaction of a small cluster of cells.

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  1. Center for Computational Science, Department of Mathematics, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

    Chia-Yu Hsu

  2. Department of Mathematics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA

    Robert Dillon

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Hsu, CY., Dillon, R. A 3D Motile Rod-Shaped Monotrichous Bacterial Model. Bull. Math. Biol. 71, 1228–1263 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-009-9400-3

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