GenomeScale Reconstruction of a SalmonellaMetabolicModel

Salmonella are closely related to commensal Escherichia coli but have gained virulence factors enabling them to behave as enteric pathogens. Less well studied are the similarities and dif-ferences that exist between the metabolic properties of these organisms that may contribute toward niche adaptation of Sal-monella pathogens. To address this, we have constructed a genome scale Salmonella metabolic model (iMA945). The model comprises 945 open reading frames or genes, 1964 reac-tions, and 1036 metabolites. There was significant overlap with genes present in E. coli MG1655 model iAF1260. In silico growth predictions were simulated using themodel on different carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulfur sources. These were compared with substrate utilization data gathered from high throughput phenotyping microarrays revealing good agree-ment. Of the compounds tested, the majority were utilizable b