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Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Rissler, Matthew Lynn
URN	etd-07182008-100611
Title	Stochastic Models of Collective Motion of Myxococcus xanthus
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Mathematics
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Holly Goodson Committee Chair Bei Hu Committee Member Mark Alber Committee Member Yongtao Zhang Committee Member Zhiliang Xu Committee Member
Keywords	mathematical modeling stochastic models morphogenisis myxobacteria fruiting body swarming
Date of Defense	2008-05-02
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract Myxobacteria are a group of Gram-negative bacteria that act in a “social” manner. This is most noticeable in the production of the fruiting bodies while cells are under starvation. The social aspect is also evident during swarming, or coordinated expansion of a colony with sufficient nutrient. In this thesis, both fruiting body formation and swarming of Myxobacteria are modeled. It is demonstrated that a modified Lattice Gas Cellular Automata model of cells with reversals is capable of aggregation and mounding in fruiting body formation. In the model, the amount of spores produced reaches a maximum at a reversal frequency similar to that found in experiments. Swarming of cells with A and S motility is also modeled as a modified lattice gas cellular automata, and S-motility in an off-lattice manner.
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