ecGEMs
ecGEMs, or ecosystem-scale genome-scale metabolic models, are computational models that represent the metabolic capabilities of entire ecosystems. They integrate genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) of individual organisms within an ecosystem, allowing for the simulation of metabolic interactions and exchanges between species. ecGEMs are particularly useful in studying complex microbial communities, such as those found in soil, gut, or wastewater treatment systems, where multiple organisms coexist and interact metabolically.
The development of ecGEMs involves several steps. First, individual GEMs are constructed for each organism in
ecGEMs have been applied in various fields, including environmental science, biotechnology, and medicine. They can help
Despite their potential, ecGEMs face challenges, including the need for accurate and comprehensive genomic data, the