Motility and nutrient availability modulate biofilm formation in confinement

Biofilms are microbial communities formed when free-swimming bacteria transition to a sessile, surface-attached state. In nature, biofilm colonization is influenced by many environmental factors such as nutrient availability, competition between different species, and chemical and mechanical stresses. Here, using microfluidic experiments and theoretical modeling, we study biofilm formation in confined environments. We show how the interplay between bacterial proliferation, self-generated nutrient gradients, and motility modulates the spatiotemporal evolution of biofilm growth. We discuss the implications of our findings on the evolution of microbial communities in heterogeneous environments.