Bacterial Propulsion in Challenging Fluids: A Multiphysics Approach to Simulating E. Coli Active Matter in Contaminated Aquatic Environments

This study investigates the active matter dynamics of Escherichia coli bacteria in a polluted fluid environment using computational simulation modeling. The key focus is on understanding the interplay between individual bacterial flagella propulsion and the collective behavior of the bacterial active matter system. The simulation results reveal the impact of the fluid's shear-thinning behavior and the importance of considering non-Newtonian rheological properties when modeling bacterial active matter. The insights gained can inform the design of microfluidic devices and contribute to a deeper understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying bacterial active matter systems.