Computational modeling of phenotypic and morphological heterogeneity in biofilms

Biofilms, intricate communities of bacteria thriving at various interfaces, endure diverse environmental conditions. Despite their prevalence, the morphological and phenotypic patterns that arise during their development are not well understood. To address this complexity, we introduce a novel computational model that integrates the local coupling between phenotypic expression, morphology, and chemical environment, and reproduces the emergent collective behavior of the biofilm. Using this model, we have investigated the competing roles of friction and adhesion in the interactions between the biofilm and the substrate. We find that, under constant adhesion, increasing friction promotes wrinkles by decreasing the critical radius (the radius at which the biofilm wrinkles) and increasing the critical principal stresses, following a nonlinear behavior. Conversely, with constant friction, increasing adhesion delays wrinkle formation, with critical principal stresses increasing as the critical radius follows a power-law relationship. Additionally, we observe distinct morphological differences in biofilms under varying friction and adhesion conditions between the biofilm and the substrate. Furthermore, we show how phenotypic expression leads to extracellular matrix (ECM) production, which controls the wrinkle morphology. . This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insight into the complex interplay between friction and adhesion in determining biofilm morphology.