Lattice Boltzmann modelling of bacterial colony patterns

The formation of branches in bacterial colonies is influenced by both chemical interactions (reactions) and the movement of substances through space (diffusion). These colonies can exhibit a variety of fascinating branching patterns due to the interplay of nutrient transport, bacterial growth, and chemotaxis. To understand this complex process, researchers have developed several mathematical models based on solving reaction-diffusion equations. In this letter, we introduce an innovative application of the lattice Boltzmann method to investigate the diverse morphological patterns observed in bacterial colonies. This method is concise, compact, and easy to implement. Our study demonstrates its effectiveness in accurately predicting various types of bacterial colony patterns, offering a new tool to obtain insights into the dynamics of bacterial growth and pattern formation.