Cellular-automata algorithm for simulation of 2D bacterial film evolution under continuous cultivation

Abstract

The paper presents the results of development and computer implementation an algorithm for the operation of a cellular automaton designed to simulate the surface growth of bacterial biofilm under the continuous-flow cultivation. Hexagonal cells are used to design the lattice of the cellular automaton. Despite the increased complexity of implementation, this approach improves the adequacy of the simulation results compared to the implementation based on the classical orthogonal grid due to the greater number of internal connections. The algorithm is based on the mechanisms of multiphase population dynamics of bacterial colonies: initiation (interphase), film growth due to active division. The simulation system is implemented in the Unity platform in C#. The software implementation was supplemented by the interval procedural fractal dimension of the visualized biofilms. The computer simulation data qualitatively correspond to the results of a biological experiment to study the population dynamics of bacteria.