Motile microorganisms in complex fluids

The interaction of motile microorganisms and surrounding fluids is of importance in a variety of biological and environmental phenomena including the development of biofilms, colonization of microbes in human and animal bodies, and formation of marine algal blooms. Complex fluids are pervasive in microbial environments and can have profound effects on the motility of microbes, affecting fundamental microbial processes such as their ability to take up nutrients and colonize surfaces. In this study, we scrutinize the role of rheological properties of the surrounding fluid on the motility, spatial distribution, and collective behavior of microswimmers in complex fluids.