A Bayesian network expansion algorithm called BN+1 was developed to identify undocumented gene interactions in a known pathway using microarray gene expression data. In our recent paper, the BN+1 algorithm has been successfully used to identify key regulators including uspE in the E. coli ROS pathway and biofilm formation.18 In this report, a synthetic network was designed to further evaluate this algorithm. The BN+1 method was found to identify both linear and nonlinear relationships and correctly identify variables near the starting network. Using experimentally derived data, the BN+1 method identifies the gene fdhE as a potentially new ROS regulator. Finally, a range of possible score cutoff methods are explored to identify a set of criteria for selecting BN+1 calls.
Keywords: BN+1; E. coli; ROS; bayesian network; biofilm; gene interaction; microarray data analysis; network expansion; reactive oxygen species; synthetic network.