Mathematics Colloquia and Seminars

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Conventional mechanism of bacterial chemotaxis depends critically on fast decrease and slow adaptation of cell's turning frequency in a favorable environment. This mechanism is relatively ineffective: aggregation of bacterial colony towards chemoattractant is slow and incomplete. Aerotaxis is the particular form of chemotaxis when oxygen dissolved in water plays the roles of both attractant (at moderate concentrations) and repellent (at high concentration). In the experiments of Dr.Zhulin's group (Loma Linda Medical School) it was discovered that this form of taxis goes on without slow adaptation. This makes aerotaxis very effective leading to fast and complete aggregation to favorable oxygen concentration. My model consists of a system of differential equations describing the bacteria moving in the same direction. Computer simulations allow to compare theoretical and experimental results and make a judgement on the validity of various biochemical mechanisms.