title: Network-based metabolic analysis and microbial community modeling.
abstract: Network inference is being applied to studies of microbial ecology to visualize and characterize microbial communities. Network representations can allow examination of the underlying organizational structure of a microbial community, and identification of key players or environmental conditions that influence community assembly and stability. Microbial co-association networks provide information on the dynamics of community structure as a function of time or other external variables. Community metabolic networks can provide a mechanistic link between species through identification of metabolite exchanges and species specific resource requirements. When used together, co-association networks and metabolic networks can provide a more in-depth view of the hidden rules that govern the stability and dynamics of microbial communities.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States.
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cardona
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Division of Biosciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, United States.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weisenhorn
authors.affiliation: Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, United States.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, United States; Division of Biosciences, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, United States. Electronic address: gilbertjack@uchicago.edu.
authors.forename: Jack A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000502:physiology*; D056265:Microbial Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological