Biofilm growth under different nutrient conditions.

<p>(a) average number of days to reach pre-defined volume; (b) biofilm with the lowest values of <i>δ</i> and <i>κ</i>; (c) biofilm with the highest values of <i>δ</i> and <i>κ</i> (colour code for cells: blue = bacteria, cyan = inert, grey = EPS).</p

Biofilm deformation and detachment at .

<p>(a) time, T^** = 0; (b) T^** = 8000; (c) T^** = 20000; (d) T^** = 70000; (e) T^** = 130000. Streamer formation and detachment is evident at the later stages of the deformation.</p

Biofilm growth when nutrients are supplied from the bottom substratum instead of the top wall.

<p>The same <i>δ</i>, <i>κ</i>, and <i>β</i> values as in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0181965#pone.0181965.g004" target="_blank">Fig 4(B)</a> are used for this simulation. The biofilm surface is flat in this case when compared with <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0181965#pone.0181965.g004" target="_blank">Fig 4(B)</a> where the nutrient is supplied from the top.</p

Summary of the model.

<p>A representative volume is chosen from the large-scale biological system and this representative volume is the computational domain. A generic individual based model can predict the growth and emergent properties of biofilms and flocs in a range of large-scale biological systems.</p

Biofilm growth under a shear flow.

<p>The biofilm shapes are shown at the non-dimensional time T^* = 140 (<i>T</i>* = <i>t</i>(<i>s</i>)×<i>μ</i>_<i>m</i>(<i>s</i>⁻¹)); (a) , very rough shape; (b) , wavy pattern; (c) , flat shape. As shear rate increases the biofilm surface changes from very rough to wavy and then smooth.</p

NUFEB-1.0

official release of the NUFEB softwar

Biofilm emergent properties at time T^* = 140.

<p>(a) surface roughness; (b) porosity (error bars show ± 1 standard deviation calculated from five replicates).</p

Input parameters for biofilm simulations.

<p>Input parameters for biofilm simulations.</p

Effect of biofilm height on biofilm detachment.

<p>(a) number of events; (b) distribution of the volumes of detached clusters; (c) detachment rate. The mean volume of detached clusters decreases as height increases. The initial biofilm height is shown in non-dimensional form.</p

HET, AOB, and NOB interaction.

<p>It is seen that HET dominates in the biofilm when competing with AOB and NOB with typical parameters and the chosen nutrient conditions (red = AOB, green = NOB, blue = HET, grey = EPS).</p