Virtual Colon: spatiotemporal modeling of metabolic interactions in a computational colonic environment.

ABSTRACT: Host-microbial metabolic interactions have been recognized as an essential factor in host health and disease. Genome-scale metabolic modeling approaches have made important contributions to our understanding of the interactions in such communities. One particular such modeling approach is BacArena, in which metabolic models grow, reproduce, and interact as independent agents in a spatiotemporal metabolic environment. Here, we present a modeling application of BacArena, a virtual colonic environment, which reveals spatiotemporal metabolic interactions in a computational colonic environment. This environment resembles the crypt space together with the mucus layers, the lumen, and fluid dynamics. Our proof-of-principle experiments include mono-colonization simulations of context-specific colo

SUBMITTER: Marinos G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12817927 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature