Bacterial selection and control by the use of microdesigned architectures

C.A. CONDAT; I. BERDAKIN; H.N. MOYANO CORTEZ; V.I. MARCONI

Santiago

Conferencia; XVII Medyfinol 2012; 2012

An interesting rectication efect has been recently observed in motile bacteria confined byspecially designed asymmetric architectures. This effect, which is controlled by the interactionbetween the bacteria and the confining walls, opens the way for the design of micro uidic devicesthat can be used in the selection and accumulation of specic microorganisms. By simulatingthe dynamics of run-and-tumble self-propelled organisms, we show how the intensity of the recti-cation effect depends on the detailed dynamics of the individual microorganisms. We show, forinstance, that the distribution of run lengths and the preservation of run orientation memoryat the tumbles are important factors controlling the speed and efficiency of rectication andseparation. Using realistic parameter values, we also show how bacterial strain separation canbe achieved using a suitably built device.