A shear-induced limit on bacterial surface adhesion in fluid flow

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Yeo, Edwina F.; Walker, Benjamin J.; Pearce, Philip; Dalwadi, Mohit P.
• 署名单位: University of London; University College London; University of London; University College London; University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2516069123
• 发表日期: 2026-01-27
• 页码: e2516069123
• 关键词: bacterial adhesion; active flow; biofilm formation; GENERALIZED TAYLOR DISPERSION; DYNAMICS; stress; particles

摘要

Controlling bacterial surface adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation in fluid systems is crucial for the safety and efficacy of medical and industrial processes. Here, we theoretically examine the transport of bacteria close to surfaces, isolating how the key processes of bacterial motility and fluid flow interact and alter surface adhesion. We exploit the disparity between the fluid velocity and the swimming velocity of common motile bacteria and, using a hybrid asymptotic-computational approach, we systematically derive the coarse-grained bacterial diffusivity close to surfaces as a function of swimming speed, rotational diffusivity, and shape. We calculate an analytical upper bound for the bacterial adhesion rate by considering the scenario in which bacteria adhere irreversibly to the surface on first contact. Our theory predicts that maximal adhesion occurs at intermediate flow rates: At lower flow rates, increasing flow increases surface adhesion, while at higher flow rates, adhesion is decreased by shear-induced cell reorientation.