Three New Bioinformatics Tools Available
The NIAID sponsored Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center (PFGRC) at the J. Craig Venter Institute is pleased to announce the release of three new, free open-source software tools: Magnolia, Ginkgo and APEX. Magnolia is a microarray data management and export system for researchers who use PFGRC microarrays. The software greatly simplifies the tasks of organizing experimental data and submitting it to a public data repository. Ginkgo is a Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) and expression microarray data analysis package. Several normalization, data filtering and imputation, and replicate microarray functions are implemented in an intuitive graphical framework. The APEX tool is an implementation of the Absolute Protein Expression quantitation technique. It can compute protein abundance values for LC-MS/MS proteomics datasets, quantifying hundreds or thousands of proteins. Links to additional information on each of these new software tools is available from the PFGRC's bioinformatics page.
Microarray Suggestion Criteria
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supported Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center (PFGRC) designs, constructs, and distributes glass slide DNA microarrays for pathogens and biodefense related organisms (Select A-C agents). Currently, the PFGRC supports DNA microarrays for the 38 organisms listed here. In continuing its efforts to provide the infectious disease and biodefense communities with the microarray resources most relevant to their research efforts, the PFGRC is soliciting input for selection of its next set of reference/species microarrays. The criteria for organism selection may be found here.
February 8, 2006
PFGRC releases expanded website content to improve resource and data availability to the community
In order to provide a more comprehensive overview of the activities of the Pathogen Functional Genomics Resource Center (PFGRC) as well as the resources and research conducted by the PFGRC, we have and will continue to update our website with new information and resources. The site now contains descriptions of the PFGRC scientific programs as well as better descriptions and easier access to available resources and reagents under the PFGRC Resources link. The Presentations link provides pdf access to a variety of poster presentations and publications produced by the PFGRC faculty and staff. Posters include presentations based on research activities in comparative genomics, proteomics, and gene expression studies. Additional poster/seminar presentations are provided to educate scientists on the activities and resources provided by the PFGRC. In the near future, the PFGRC will provide access to certain research data sets under the Data Release link.