Fig. 1: Summary of the process followed in studying the Guaymas microbiome.

This study starts with the construction of genome-scale metabolic networks using tools like CarveMe and MetQuest from the metagenomically-assembled genomes (MAGs) of corresponding microbes. This allows us to further construct metabolic networks for two-member communities and higher-order communities. The next step involves predicting the characteristics of the community, like the metabolic capability of microbes in the community, metabolic dependence of the community, metabolic exchanges possible in the community and unique contributors in the community. Further, genetic interactions between microbes were predicted using MetaCHIP, a tool for predicting horizontal gene transfers (HGTs). As the last step, the competitiveness of the community is determined at a different community scale and compared against other microbial communities.