Mathematical Modelling of Chemotaxis

This project is concerned with developing mathematical models of cell motion and clustering due to chemotaxis where cells are attracted to chemical signals in the fluid that surrounds them. These chemical signals may either be secreted by the cells themselves or may simply be present in the surrounding fluid. In the model, the cells can detect the direction in which the concentration of the chemical is increasing and move in this direction. Cells can secrete the chemical signal in order to attract other nearby cells to form large clusters.

Project timeframe

This project is ongoing.

Project aims

The use of mathematical modelling to simulate the motion of biological cells, and simulate how these cells come together to form large clusters. 

A simple mathematical model has been developed. A more sophisticated model which include the motion of the fluid is also under development.

The simple model which has been developed successfully simulates how cells randomly scattered over a flat surface can signal each other and come together to form large clusters of cells.

The more sophisticated model has been calibrated so that the motion of the cells in the simulation closely matches the recorded motion of cells that have been observed during in vitro experiments.

Project findings and impact

A simple mathematical model has been developed. A more sophisticated model which include the motion of the fluid is also under development.

The simple model which has been developed successfully simulates how cells randomly scattered over a flat surface can signal each other and come together to form large clusters of cells. 

The more sophisticated model has been calibrated so that the motion of the cells in the simulation closely matches the recorded motion of cells that have been observed during in vitro experiments.

 

Research Team 

Dr Paul Harris

Output

Journal Paper:
A simple mathematical model of cell clustering by chemotaxis.
Mathematical Biosciences, Vol 294, pp 62-70, 2017.

Book Chapter:
Mathematical Models of Cell Clustering Due to Chemotaxis.
In Integral Methods in Science and Engineering 2016, Eds C Constanda, MD Riva, PD Lamberti and P. Musolino. pp 97-104. (2017).

Paper in Refereed Conference Proceedings:
A mathematical model of the formation of the chemical trails behind moving cells.
In Proceedings of the Eleventh UKBIM conference, D Chappell (Editor) (2017).

Conference Presentations.
Mathematical Models Of Cell Clustering Due To Chemotaxis.
The 14th International Conference on Integral Methods in Science and Engineering. University of Padova, Italy. July 2016        

A mathematical model of the formation of chemical trails behind moving cells.
The 11th UK Conference on Boundary Integral Methods, Nottingham Trent University. July 2017

 

Partners

Currently there are no partners for this project.