Department of Mathematics, Florida State University
"Model and experiments of biofilm removal: Going with the flow"

Abstract:

Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria that anchor themselves to a surface and each other by self-produced polymer. Biofilms are responsible for numerous recalcitrant diseases including chronic inner ear infections, chronic pneumonia and dental cavities. Recent experiments on biofilm removal by forcing with high velocity water jets showed high velocity ripples. We use analytic and numerical methods to help explain the physics of these ripples leading the way to fine-tuning methods for removing dental biofilms.