Speaker
Description
Constraint-based approaches are key concepts in modeling of metabolism. As key ingredient these approaches require the stoichiometric matrix of the metabolic network of an organism that can be readily derived from its genome. Using this stoichiometric matrix along with physiological constraints and an evolutionary objective, fluxes within such a network can be predicted using flux balance analysis. In the context of microbial community simulations, either stoichiometric matrices of individual microbial species in a community are combined in a community-level metabolic network or individual species’ microbial networks can be simulated individually in a common environment. In my talk I will outline the basic methodological principles underlying these modeling approaches covering the basics of constraint-based modeling and then moving over to different community modeling techniques. I will close by providing several examples how these modeling approaches can be used to answer questions about the ecology of microbial communities and the role of microbial communities in human health.
