Geometrically Regulating Evolutionary Dynamics in Biofilms

Abstract

Theoretical understanding of evolutionary dynamics in spatially structured populations often relies on non-spatial models. Biofilms are among such populations where a more accurate understanding is of theoretical interest and can reveal new solutions to existing challenges. Here, we studied how the geometry of the environment affects the evolutionary dynamics of expanding populations, using the Eden model. Our results show that fluctuations of sub-populations during range expansion in 2D and 3D environments are not Brownian. Furthermore, we found that the substrate's geometry interferes with the evolutionary dynamics of populations that grow upon it. Inspired by these findings, we propose a periodically wedged pattern on surfaces prone to develop biofilms. On such patterned surfaces, natural selection becomes less effective and beneficial mutants would have a harder time establishing. Additionally, this modification accelerates genetic drift and leads to less diverse biofilms. Both interventions are highly desired for biofilms.

References in corpus (14)

• Genetic drift at expanding frontiers promotes gene segregation
• SLE for theoretical physicists
• Controlling the speed and trajectory of evolution with counterdiabatic driving
• Stochastic geometry of critical curves, Schramm-Loewner evolutions, and conformal field theory
• Asymmetric Mutualism in Two- and Three-Dimensional Range Expansions
• Thermal Behavior of Spin Clusters and Interfaces in two-dimensional Ising Model on Square Lattice
• Range Expansion of Heterogeneous Populations
• Bacterial range expansions on a growing front: Roughness, Fixation, and Directed Percolation
• Evolution of populations expanding on curved surfaces
• Competing Universalities in Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) Growth Models
• Effect of heterogeneity and spatial correlations on the structure of tumor invasion front in cellular environments
• Optimal evolutionary control for artificial selection on molecular phenotypes
• Two-dimensional Super-roughening in Three-dimensional Ising Model
• Short-Range Migration Can Alter Evolutionary Dynamics in Solid Tumors