Controlling microbial communities: a theoretical framework

摘要: Microbial communities perform key functions for the host they associate with or environment reside in. Our ability to control those microbial is crucial maintaining even enhancing well-being of their environment. But this potential has not been fully harvested due lack a systematic method complex communities. Here we introduce theoretical framework rigorously address challenge, based on new notion structural accessibility. This allows identification minimal sets “driver species” through which can achieve feasible entire community. We apply our core microbiota sea sponge and gut gnotobiotic mice infected C. difficile. control-theoretical fundamentally enhances effectively manage communities, such as human microbiota. In particular, concept driver species community holds translational promise in design probiotic cocktails various diseases associated disrupted