Speaker
Description
Chemotaxis enables microbes to navigate nutrient gradients, playing a critical role in nutrient cycling, soil respiration, and the fate of contaminants in the subsurface. While understanding microbial interactions with nutrients and contaminants is essential, the influence of bacterial chemotaxis—particularly in relation to fluid flow—remains insufficiently explored.
This study investigates the intricate relationships between microbial behavior, hydrodynamics, and the physico-chemical properties of porous media. A microfluidic platform was developed to replicate subsurface microenvironments, incorporating hydrogels for controlled, diffusive nutrient release to mimic natural nutrient sources such as roots and soil aggregates. This platform allows real-time adjustments of chemical heterogeneity in the porous medium and provides optical access to monitor bacterial movement and fluid flow. Using this system, the effects of bacterial traits like motility and chemotaxis on nutrient exposure were analyzed, along with their influence on cell transport under varying flow conditions and porous medium heterogeneities.
The findings reveal the control that porous medium heterogeneity exerts on bacterial nutrient exposure and the value of motility and chemotaxis depending on the conditions.
| Country | Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Water & Porous Media Focused Abstracts | This abstract is related to Water |
| Acceptance of the Terms & Conditions | Click here to agree |
