Monte Carlo Simulations Derived from Direct Observations of Individual Bacteria Inform Macroscopic Migration Models at Granular Porous Media Interfaces

Abstract

Motile bacteria accumulated at the interface between an aqueous solution and a polymer gel suspension. The gel suspension was produced using Gelrite and contained 50-500 microm semisolid gel particulates in aqueous buffer. Smooth-swimming (HCB437) and wild-type (HCB1) Escherchia coli displayed normal swimming behaviors in the aqueous buffer but exhibited no translational motion when obstructed by the semisolid particulates of the gel suspension. Translational motion immediately resumed after the bacteria reoriented in a direction away from the particle surfaces. These observations were incorporated into Monte Carlo simulations that linked individual swimming properties to macroscopic bacterial distributions. The simulations suggested that the apparent surface area of the porous media influenced the degree of bacteria/surface interactions and thatthe mechanism of surface association could concentrate bacterial populations based upon the physical constraints of the porous media system. Population distributions from the Monte Carlo simulations matched a 1-D transport model that characterized the bacteria/surface interactions as an adsorption-like process even though direct observations suggested no physical attachment was occurring. Consequently, the 1-D transport model provided a semiquantitative approach to approximate bacterial migrations within porous media systems. Results suggest that the self-propulsive nature of bacteria can produce nondiffusive migration patterns within high-surface area environments.