Dillard LR, Payne DD, Papin JA. Mechanistic models of microbial community metabolism.
Mol Omics 2021;
17:365-375. [PMID:
34125127 PMCID:
PMC8202304 DOI:
10.1039/d0mo00154f]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities affect many facets of human health and well-being. Naturally occurring bacteria, whether in nature or the human body, rarely exist in isolation. A deeper understanding of the metabolic functions of these communities is now possible with emerging computational models. In this review, we summarize frameworks for constructing mechanistic models of microbial community metabolism and discuss available algorithms for model analysis. We highlight essential decision points that greatly influence algorithm selection, as well as model analysis. Polymicrobial metabolic models can be utilized to gain insights into host-pathogen interactions, bacterial engineering, and many more translational applications.
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