MicroEXPERT: Microbiome profiling platform with cross-study metagenome-wide association analysis functionality
featured.pngAbstract
The framework of the MicroEXPERT platform. Our Platform was composed of five modules. Data management module: Users upload raw data and metadata to the system using a guided workflow. Data processing module: Uploaded data is processed to generate taxonomical distribution and functional composition results. Metagenome-wide association studies module (MWAS): Various methods, including biomarker analysis, PCA, co-occurrence networks, and sample classification, are employed using metadata. Data search module: Users can query nucleotide sequences to retrieve information in the MicroEXPERT database. Data visualization module: Visualization tools are used to illustrate the metagenome analysis results.
In this work, we introduce the MicroEXPERT platform, a sophisticated system engineered to proficiently manage, analyze, and mine metagenomic data with precision and depth. First, an efficient and state-of-the-art database management system was designed to support long-term data preservation. Second, we designed a search module to facilitate multilevel exploration (from gene to biome) of the metagenome. Finally, the MWAS module were designed with various statistical techniques, an intuitive graphical user interface, and an interactive analysis result. We are dedicated to constructing an accessible, powerful, and informative MWAS module of microbial communities.
