MicroNet-MIMRF: a microbial network inference approach based on mutual information and Markov random fields

The human microbiome, comprises complex associations and communication networks among microbial communities, which are crucial for maintaining health. The construction of microbial networks is vital for elucidating these associations. However, existing microbial networks inference methods cannot solve the issues of zero-inflation and non-linear associations. Therefore, necessitating novel methods to improve the accuracy of microbial networks inference.

In this study, we introduce the Microbial Network based on Mutual Information and Markov Random Fields (MicroNet-MIMRF) as a novel approach for inferring microbial networks. Abundance data of microbes are modeled through the zero-inflated Poisson distribution, and the discrete matrix is estimated for further calculation. Markov random fields based on mutual information are used to construct accurate microbial networks. MicroNet-MIMRF excels at estimating pairwise associations between microbes, effectively addressing zero-inflation and non-linear associations in microbial abundance data. It outperforms commonly used techniques in simulation experiments, achieving area under the curve values exceeding 0.75 for all parameters. A case study on inflammatory bowel disease data further demonstrates the method's ability to identify insightful associations. Conclusively, MicroNet-MIMRF is a powerful tool for microbial network inference that handles the biases caused by zero-inflation and overestimation of associations.

The MicroNet-MIMRF is provided at https://github.com/Fionabiostats/MicroNet-MIMRF.