Abstract: Reporter gene, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies have made it possible to measure gene and protein expression in microbial biofilms. How can differences in biofilm gene expression, both in comparison to planktonic cells and in space and time within the biofilm, be understood? Here we provide general theoretical framework for addressing this question. At the core of the model are reaction-diffusion equations that account for microscale concentration gradients within the biofilm. It is these differences in local concentrations that underpin differences in local growth, gene, and protein expression.

About the Speaker: Professor Zhang received his B.S. degree, M.S. Degree from Peking University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and then his Ph.D degree from University of Minnesota, USA. His interests include scientific computation, numerical analysis, and the mathematical modeling of biofilms. He has published research in several journals including Communications in Computational Physics, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, and SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis.