Towards predictive models of the human gut microbiome Journal Article


Authors: Bucci, V.; Xavier, J. B.
Article Title: Towards predictive models of the human gut microbiome
Abstract: The intestinal microbiota is an ecosystem susceptible to external perturbations such as dietary changes and antibiotic therapies. Mathematical models of microbial communities could be of great value in the rational design of microbiota-tailoring diets and therapies. Here, we discuss how advances in another field, engineering of microbial communities for wastewater treatment bioreactors, could inspire development of mechanistic mathematical models of the gut microbiota. We review the state of the art in bioreactor modeling and current efforts in modeling the intestinal microbiota. Mathematical modeling could benefit greatly from the deluge of data emerging from metagenomic studies, but data-driven approaches such as network inference that aim to predict microbiome dynamics without explicit mechanistic knowledge seem better suited to model these data. Finally, we discuss how the integration of microbiome shotgun sequencing and metabolic modeling approaches such as flux balance analysis may fulfill the promise of a mechanistic model.
Keywords: nonhuman; mathematical modeling; mathematical model; intestine flora; bioreactor; antibiotic; microbial community; microbiome; biofilm; whole cell; metagenomics; community structure; human; article; network inference
Journal Title: Journal of Molecular Biology
Volume: 426
Issue: 23
ISSN: 0022-2836
Publisher: Academic Press Inc., Elsevier Science  
Date Published: 2014-11-25
Start Page: 3907
End Page: 3916
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2014.03.017
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC4194272
PUBMED: 24727124
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 1 December 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Joao Debivar Xavier
    97 Xavier