This course will introduce computational modeling of large (genome-scale) metabolic reaction networks through a scalable framework known as constraint-based modeling. Emphasis will be on the usage in both biotechnology and systems biomedicine. Main topics will be fundamental constraint-based modeling methods, omics data integration, multi-scale modeling and microbial community modeling. The course will combine theoretical lectures with tutorial exercises and computational exercises in Python.
Date & location
13 -17 Feb 2023, Wageningen
Course coordinators
Maria Suarez Diez (Wageningen University), Marian Breuer (Maastricht University)
Course credits
1.5 + 1.5 ECTS (attendance -/+ assessment)
Course overview
Constraint-based modeling is a powerful modeling framework that allows to model reaction fluxes in genome-scale metabolic network models, with uses in fundamental and applied questions relevant to biotechnology, microbiology and biomedicine. These genome-scale metabolic models encompass all metabolic reactions encoded in an organism, possibly contextualized to a particular cell type and condition. Constraint-based modeling provides a scalable framework to analyze these large-scale models, whether they describe microbes, human cells in health and disease or multi-cellular systems like microbiota and the whole body. In this course, you will be introduced to:
- the principles of constraint-based reconstruction and analysis (COBRA)
- the underlying mathematical foundations of constraint-based modeling
- content, structure and reconstruction of genome-scale metabolic models
- basic and advanced methods for interrogating models and interpreting results
- methods for integration of omics data with genome-scale metabolic models
- multi-scale applications, in particular dynamic Flux Balance Analysis
- constraint-based modeling of microbial communities
- open source COBRA software, with a focus on the Python package COBRApy
- standards for reconstruction and model sharing
- example applications to biomedicine and biotechnology
The course is structured into both lectures and practical sessions so that theory can be illustrated with biologically motivated computational examples.
NB: For practical sessions, participants require their own laptop with Python and the package COBRApy pre-installed (see https://github.com/opencobra/cobrapy/blob/stable/INSTALL.rst for instructions).
Course programme
tbd
Speakers
tbd
Target audience
Constraint-based modeling is a rapidly growing field that is being used in both fundamental and applied research and biotechnology. It sits at the intersection between quantitative modeling, bioinformatics and cellular physiology, and as such, is an example of systems biology at work.
While participants would benefit from some knowledge of either quantitative modeling, bioinformatics or metabolism this is not required. This includes, for example, scientists working in a laboratory and wanting to learn more about building or using genome-scale metabolic models, as well as those who have used some basic COBRA methodologies, but want to know how else it can be applied to their research.
Learning outcomes
- Introduction to COBRA
- Proficiency with the COBRApy package in Python
- Familiarity with typical applications of constraint-based modeling in biomedicine and biotechnology
More information
For more information about the course you can contact Maria Suarez Diez or Marian Breuer.
Registration
The registration fees for this 5-day course are:
- PhD student: 400 euro (excl. VAT)
- Academic researcher (PI/Postdoc): 600 euro (excl. VAT)
- Industry: 900 euros (excl.VAT)
The course fee includes:
- Course material
- Catering: coffee, tea and lunch will be provided.
There is room for max. 25 participants.
You can register for the course by filling out this registration form. Find general enrollment information here.
