Dynamics of Pattern Formation by Bacterial Swarms
Bacterial swarming represents an organized form of multi-cellular translocation across solid surfaces. There are many processes involved in the swarming behavior, such as cell differentiation, interaction between neighboring bacteria, and in particular, highly coordinated migration of swarm cells, which can include packs of cells that can deploy their collective complement of flagella for faster movement. To gain a more thorough understanding of the dynamics of swarming bacteria, a non-labeled cell tracking algorithm has been developed to study the velocity field of flagellated bacteria, Serratia marcescens, swarming on a soft agar plate. We comprehend the fundamental scientific principles that govern the dynamics of the bacterial swarming, as well as demonstrate the system approaches necessary to study cooperative behaviors and interactions of bacteria in multi-cellular communities.
