NUTRITIVE in the ECMTB24

The Technical University of Delft (TU DELFT) presented the application of mathematical modelling of microbial ecological systems in the framework of the NUTRITIVE project at the 13th European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology (July 22-26 in Toledo (Spain).

Within the ECMTB24, TU DELFT contributed to the organization of the one-day mini-symposium “MATHEMATICAL MODELLING OF MICROBIAL ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS: BRIDING THEORY AND EXPERIMENTS” focused on how to integrate mathematical modelling in experimental biology and biotechnology. Rebeca González Cabaleiro (researcher within the NUTRITIVE project) contributed to the mini-symposium organization and made a presentation titled: “Integration of mathematical modelling with experimental parallel bioreactor operation to advance bioprocess engineering”.

This mini-symposium brought together leading researchers working at the intersection of mathematics, ecology and experimental biotechnology to explore recent advancements in the mathematical modelling of microbial ecological systems. Prominent examples of such systems appear in diverse environments from biofilm communities, waste water treatment systems, airborne microbial communities to human gut microbiota. When it comes to mathematical modelling, these complex and diverse systems share many common features.

This mini-symposium focused  on the presentation of advanced developments on mathematical models involving cross-diffusion or reaction-diffusion type partial differential equations, to deepen our understanding and capacity for quantification, of the dynamics that control the physiology and ecology of complex microbial communities.

The session featured presentations from mathematicians who have made significant contributions to the theoretical aspects of microbial ecological systems, but also applied scientists focusing on developing modelling to advance biotechnologies.

Interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations were promoted with the objective of advancing on the predictive understanding and capacity for experimental validation. Topics included recent mathematical developments in cross-diffusion and reaction-diffusion systems that appear on the modelling of microbial communities, spatial and temporal dynamics of biofilm formation in ecological contexts, incorporation of environmental factors and heterogeneity into mathematical models, validation and calibration of mathematical models using experimental data, and emerging trends and challenges in the mathematical modelling of microbial communities, among others.