Analysis of chemotactic bacterial distributions in population migration assays using a mathematical model applicable to steep or shallow attractant gradients (Q807465)

The mathematical model developed by \textit{M. A. Rivero} et al. [Chem. Engng. Sci. 44, 2881-2897 (1989)] is applied to literature data measuring chemotactic bacterial population distributions in response to steep as well as shallow attractant gradients. This model is based on a fundamental picture of the sensing and response mechanisms of individual bacterial cells, and thus relates individual cell properties such as swimming speed and tumbling frequency to population parameters such as the random motility coefficient and the chemotactic sensitivity coefficient. Numerical solution of the model equations generates predicted bacterial density and attractant concentration profiles for any given experimental assay.