Friday, Sep. 24, PSA 104

Mudassar Imran,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics,
Arizona State University


Title:
Gene transfer in Biofilm

Abstract:
Can a conjugative plasmid encoding enhanced biofilm forming
abilities for its bacterial host facilitate the persistence of the
plasmid in a bacterial population despite conferring diminished
growth rate and segregative plasmid loss on its bearers? We
construct a mathematical model in a chemostat and in a plug flow
environment to answer this question. Explicit conditions for an
affirmative answer are derived. Numerical simulations support the
conclusion.