Formation of bacterial biofilms on solid surfaces within a fluid starts when bacteria attach to the substrate. Understanding environmental factors affecting the attachment and the early stages of the biofilm development will help develop methods of controlling the biofilm growth. Here, we show that biofilm formation is strongly affected by the flows in thin layers of bacterial suspensions controlled by surface waves. Deterministic wave patterns promote the growth of patterned biofilms, while wave-driven turbulent motion discourages patterned attachment of bacteria. Strong biofilms form under the wave antinodes, while inactive bacteria and passive particles settle under nodal points. By controlling the wavelength, its amplitude, and horizontal mobility of the wave patterns, one can shape the biofilm and either enhance the growth or discourage the formation of the biofilm. The results suggest that the deterministic wave-driven transport channels, rather than hydrodynamic forces acting on microorganisms, determine the preferred location for the bacterial attachment.

当细菌附着在基材上时，液体内的固体表面上开始形成细菌生物膜。了解影响生物膜附着和早期阶段的环境因素将有助于开发控制生物膜生长的方法。在这里，我们表明生物膜的形成受到表面波控制的细菌悬浮液薄层流动的强烈影响。确定性的波模式促进图案生物膜的生长，而波驱动的湍流运动则阻止细菌的图案附着。强生物膜在波腹下形成，而不活跃的细菌和被动颗粒则在波节下沉淀。通过控制波型的波长、振幅和水平移动性，可以塑造生物膜并促进生物膜的生长或阻止生物膜的形成。结果表明，确定性的波驱动传输通道，而不是作用于微生物的水动力，决定了细菌附着的首选位置。