Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41942266›Full record

ReviewEnvironmental microbiology2026

Mathematical Modelling and Intuition in Microbiology: A Perspective.

Jamie A Lopez, Amir Erez

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Environmental microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Jamie A LopezDepartment of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Amir ErezRacah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2320-4984

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mathematical models are increasingly a part of microbiological research. Here, we share our perspective on how modelling advances the discipline by: (i) enforcing logical consistency, (ii) enabling quantitative prediction, (iii) extracting hidden parameters from data, and (iv) generating intuitive understanding. We map a spectrum of modelling frameworks, from whole-cell simulations to minimal logistic growth equations, and provide interactive examples for some common frameworks. Building on this overview, we outline pragmatic criteria for choosing an appropriate level of description to capture phenomena of interest. Finally, we present a case study in modelling of microbial ecosystems from our own work to illustrate how mechanistic modelling can yield generalizable intuition. This perspective aims to be an introductory roadmap for integrating mathematical modelling into experimental microbiology.

Indexed as

Models, BiologicalModels, TheoreticalEcosystemIntuition

Identifiers

PMID41942266
PMCPMC13053149

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.