Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
09:05
Measurements of CO2 Fluxes at Non-Ideal Eddy Covariance Sites
Published on: June 24, 2019
8.4K
Escher-FBA: a web application for interactive flux balance analysis
Elliot Rowe1, Bernhard O Palsson1,2,3,4, Zachary A King5
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, USA.
BMC Systems Biology
|September 28, 2018
Summary
Escher-FBA is a new web tool that makes metabolic network analysis using flux balance analysis (FBA) more accessible. It allows users to perform complex FBA simulations and visualize results interactively without coding.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic network analysis
- Systems biology
- Computational biology
Background:
- Flux balance analysis (FBA) is a key method for studying metabolic networks.
- Existing FBA tools often require software downloads and coding, posing challenges for new users.
- Identifying significant changes in large metabolic network predictions can be difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an intuitive web application for interactive FBA simulations.
- To lower the barrier to entry for learning and applying FBA.
- To facilitate the generation of scientific hypotheses from metabolic models.
Main Methods:
- Developed Escher-FBA, a web application integrating FBA with pathway visualization.
- Enabled users to adjust flux bounds, gene knockouts, and objective functions via a user-friendly interface.
- Facilitated model uploading and high-quality figure generation without requiring software installation or coding.
Main Results:
- Escher-FBA provides an interactive platform for performing FBA simulations.
- Users can easily manipulate metabolic models and visualize simulation outcomes.
- The tool supports the replication of FBA simulations to generate scientific hypotheses.
Conclusions:
- Escher-FBA simplifies the process of learning and applying FBA.
- The web application is accessible at https://sbrg.github.io/escher-fba.
- The intuitive design promotes understanding of core FBA concepts.
Related Concept Videos
02:58Balancing Redox Equations
62.2K
Electrochemistry is the science involved in the interconversion of electrical and chemical reactions. Such reactions are called reduction-oxidation, or redox reactions. These important reactions are defined by changes in oxidation states for one or more reactant elements and include a subset of reactions involving the transfer of electrons between reactant species. Electrochemistry as a field has evolved to yield sufficient insights on the fundamental principles of redox chemistry and multiple...
62.2K
01:15Electric Flux
10.0K
The concept of flux describes how much of something goes through a given area. More formally, it is the dot product of a vector field within an area. For a better understanding, consider an open rectangular surface with a small area that is placed in a uniform electric field. The larger the area, the more field lines go through it and, hence, the greater the flux; similarly, the stronger the electric field (represented by a greater density of lines), the greater the flux. On the other hand, if...
10.0K
01:15Equilibrium and Balance
6.6K
The inner ear assumes dual functionalities of auditory perception and equilibrium maintenance. The vestibule is the organ responsible for balance. This organ contains mechanoreceptors, specifically hair cells, endowed with stereocilia, which aid in deciphering information regarding the position and motion of our heads. Two intrinsic components, the utricle and saccule, help perceive head position, while the semicircular canals track head movement. Neurological messages initiated in the...
6.6K
01:19Energy Balance
1.2K
The human body gets energy from the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Energy is released when the chemical bonds in the organic compounds present in the food are broken down. The energy content of food is measured in kilocalories (kcal), defined as the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. This value is determined by measuring the temperature change of the water surrounding a calorimeter after the complete...
1.2K
01:18Magnetic Flux
4.8K
The magnetic flux measures the number of magnetic field lines passing through a given surface area. The SI unit for magnetic flux is the weber (Wb). Magnetic flux is a scalar quantity. It depends on three factors: the strength of the magnetic field B, the area through which the field lines pass, and the relative orientation of the field with the surface area.
Suppose a surface is divided into elements of area dA. For each element, the component of the magnetic field that is normal to the...
Suppose a surface is divided into elements of area dA. For each element, the component of the magnetic field that is normal to the...
4.8K
01:18Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
1.7K
Respiratory compensation is a vital physiological process that stabilizes blood plasma pH by regulating the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), a key determinant of pH levels. Most carbon dioxide in the blood dissolves and converts into carbonic acid (H2CO3). It dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3⁻). There is also an inverse relationship between PCO2 and pH.
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are...
1.7K