DAAD PPP German-Norwegian Collaborative Research Support Scheme
Modelling and simulation of Quorum Sensing in 3-dimensional space in V. salmonicida (2007-2008)
The intention of this work is to develop a basic simulation environment for simulating different types of bacterial behaviour for a better understanding of Quorum Sensing. Therefore a virtual world will be implemented with different configurable parameters. The bacteria will be represented as so called agents with a simplified cell-cycle, the ability of movement as well as detection of other bacterial agents in the immediate vicinity. Also a configurable list of given reactions will simulate a basic intracellular network for each agent.There are many tools which simulate single aspects of cell behaviour like chemo taxis of E. Coli in a 3-dimensional media (AgentCell), population growth in 2-dimensional bio films (BacSim) or the intracellular pathways of a single cell (E-Cell). The approach of this work is to simplify and combine all necessary aspects of Quorum Sensing controlled cell behaviour in one tool. Biologist will evaluate the models and simulation output to improve the quality of our work. With this project we will give computational guidance for designing biological experiments allow the discussion of the gene controlled cell-cell communication process by QS of V. salmonicida. Partner Prof. Dr. Nils Peder Willassen
Ass. Prof. Dr. Peik Haugen
Dipl.-Inform. Tim Kahlke (Ph.D. student in Tromsų, Diploma in Bielefeld) University of Tromsų
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Molecular Biotechnology
Norway People Prof. Dr. Ralf Hofestädt
Dr. Thoralf Töpel
B.Sc. Sebastian Janowski