alterlab-cobrapy

COBRApy - Constraint-Based Reconstruction and Analysis

Overview

COBRApy is a Python library for constraint-based reconstruction and analysis (COBRA) of metabolic models, essential for systems biology research. Work with genome-scale metabolic models, perform computational simulations of cellular metabolism, conduct metabolic engineering analyses, and predict phenotypic behaviors.

Installation and Requirements

uv pip install 'cobra>=0.29,<0.32'

Requirements: Python 3.8+; depends on optlang and a solver (GLPK ships by default via swiglpk; CPLEX/Gurobi optional). Optional for plots: matplotlib, seaborn, pandas (pandas is already a hard dependency). Flux sampling and parallel deletions use multiprocessing.

Bundled model names. load_model only recognizes three bundled aliases: "textbook" (the E. coli core model, e_coli_core), "iJO1366" (full E. coli genome-scale), and "salmonella". Any other identifier (e.g. "ecoli", "e_coli_core") is not a bundled alias and triggers a remote lookup against BiGG/BioModels, which requires network access and may fail. Use read_sbml_model("path.xml") for your own models.

Core Capabilities

COBRApy provides comprehensive tools organized into several key areas:

1. Model Management

Load existing models from repositories or files:

from cobra.io import load_model

# Load bundled test models
model = load_model("textbook")  # E. coli core model
model = load_model("iJO1366")   # Full E. coli genome-scale model (BiGG)
model = load_model("salmonella")

# Load from files
from cobra.io import read_sbml_model, load_json_model, load_yaml_model
model = read_sbml_model("path/to/model.xml")
model = load_json_model("path/to/model.json")
model = load_yaml_model("path/to/model.yml")

Save models in various formats:

from cobra.io import write_sbml_model, save_json_model, save_yaml_model
write_sbml_model(model, "output.xml")  # Preferred format
save_json_model(model, "output.json")  # For Escher compatibility
save_yaml_model(model, "output.yml")   # Human-readable