The discovery of the Moku virus highlights a new threat to bees worldwide, particularly honey bees that pollinate vital crops. The novel pathogen has the potential to spread globally and cause widespread harm to honey bee colonies.
The European Research Council has awarded €1.5 million to Dr Krasileva's research team to investigate plant immune receptors and develop new methods to protect crops from pests and disease. The grant aims to help generate ways for vital crops like wheat, rice, and maize to withstand ever-persistent diseases.
CropQuant uses Raspberry Pi computers to control infield cameras capturing crop growth images, then analyzes data on high-performance computers to link environmental data with crop traits. This enables scientists to reduce farming costs and improve crop yields through field-based phenotyping methods.
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) is training the next generation of rice breeders in Vietnam in advanced bioinformatics and genomics. The programme aims to characterise genetic diversity in Vietnamese native rice lines to accelerate crop breeding and improve yields, addressing climate change threats such as drought and rising sea levels
Scientists have identified 91 novel microRNAs in the dog genome, which can help understand their role in regulating gene expression and potentially lead to breakthroughs in human diseases. The discovery provides a significant opportunity for future studies on biomedicine, evolution, and animal domestication.
The Spotted Gar genome is a small and manageable genome that has conserved its genetic material over time, making it an out-group for evolutionary studies. The study reveals the conservation of key genes involved in enamel formation, providing clues to the evolutionary history of gene families and their role in human complex diseases.
Researchers have identified plant immune receptors with additional integrated domains that mimic authentic host targets of pathogen effectors. These discoveries provide new insights into plant disease resistance and may help scientists develop sustainable production methods for key crops.
The Autophagy Regulatory Network database provides integrated and systems-level source for autophagy research, containing data on over 14,000 proteins. The new edition of the guidelines offers recommendations for best practices in autophagy monitoring, measurement, and diagnosis.
A new open-source tool called NanoOK provides comprehensive alignment-based quality control and error profile analysis for the MinION platform. The tool is easily extensible through a Java programming interface and handles metagenomic sampling gracefully.
The red clover genome provides a valuable tool for improving the beneficial traits of this important forage crop, including its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and provide protein-rich livestock feed. The genome assembly will pave the way towards genomics-assisted breeding methods for forage legumes.
The Genome Analysis Centre has achieved a major milestone in wheat research by assembling the genome into larger and more complete chunks. This breakthrough, made possible by improved sequencing technology, will enable researchers to develop new insights into wheat genes and breeding programmes.
A collaboration between UK, Colombia and Kenya institutions aims to improve Brachiaria forage crops with drought and pest-resistance. The project uses genomic technologies to develop new varieties under physical stresses.
A new project aims to characterise the genetic diversity of traditional Vietnamese rice varieties using genomic markers for disease resistance and salt tolerance. Bioinformatics capacity will be built in Vietnam through training workshops and data sharing.
A new library construction method allows simultaneous generation of up to 12 size-selected long mate pair libraries with reduced DNA input, time, and cost. This approach improves the likelihood of achieving high-quality genome assemblies, particularly for complex genomes.
A new bioinformatics approach has been developed to identify associations between molecules from vast data sources, resulting in more accurate results than current methods. This technique improves the detection of genes related to lipid metabolism by 15% on a mouse nutritional study.
The Plant & Microbial Genomics Group at TGAC has been awarded £100k to investigate the sources of sugar beet infection by Erysiphe betae. The research aims to design genetic markers for a rapid detection technology and develop diagnostic tests to inform disease management strategy.
The Earlham Institute has received a £150,000 grant from TGAC to develop two open-source software tools: Façade for visual exploration of genomic data and OmiX Navigator for multi-functional data integration. These tools aim to facilitate access to genomics data analysis and improve systems biology research.
A high demand for bioinformatics training is driven by the increasing use of big data in life sciences. The Global Organisation for Bioinformatics Learning, Education & Training (GOBLET) aims to develop a global community-centred training portal with comprehensive resources and courses.
A novel online tool, PolyMarker, has been developed to automate primer design for multiple genome species, significantly reducing turnaround time. This innovation enables the identification of genetic markers associated with desirable traits in crops, such as high yield or disease resistance.
The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) successfully trialled the MinION portable DNA sequencing device for real-time analysis of environmental samples. The team sequenced complex metagenomic samples, identifying species in real-time using bioinformatics tools Kontaminant and NanoOK.