Ecological pattern-based identification of microbial functional groups.

Researchers have developed a new method for identifying functional groups in microbial communities without relying on annotation. The method, called "functional group discovery," uses statistical analysis to identify groups of microbes that share similar metabolic pathways and ecological roles. The researchers used the method to identify groups involved in nitrogen cycling and polyamine production in gut microbiomes. The approach could help researchers better understand the ecological roles of microbes in complex communities.