The Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) are a group of five Internet-based research centers established in 2004 and funded by NIAID (the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.)[1] The BRCs were formed in response to the threats posed by emerging and re-emerging pathogens, particularly Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Category A, B, and C pathogens,[2] and their potential use in bioterrorism. The intention of NIAID in funding these bioinformatics centers is to assist researchers involved in the experimental characterization of such pathogens and the formation of drugs, vaccines, or diagnostic tools to combat them.

The main goals of the BRCs are as follows:

1) To create comprehensive databases of reliable, up-to-date bioinformatic data (genetic, proteomic, biochemical, or microbiological) related to the pathogens of interest;
2) To provide researchers with easy access to this data through Internet-based search and data retrieval user interfaces;
3) To provide researchers with relevant, state-of-the art computational tools for bioinformatic analysis of these data.

Currently there are two BRC contracts awarded, one for bacteria and viruses, and the other for vectors, Eukaryotic protozoan and fungal pathogens and host response to pathogen infections.

Bioinformatics Resource Centers
Name Acrono name Contributing organization(s) Organisms covered Example organisms (CDC Category)
Eukaryotic Pathogen, Vector and Host Informatics Resources VEuPathDB University of Pennsylvania

University of Notre Dame
University of Georgia
Imperial College of London
EBI-ENSEMBL

 All relevant pathogenic protozoa, fungi, vectors of pathogens and selected host organisms. In addition, important non-pathogenic organisms are included for phylogenetic inferences. Crithidia (Other)

Cryptosporidium (B)
Encephalitozoon (Group I)
Entamoeba (B)
Enterocytozoon (Group I)
Giardia (B)
Leishmania (Other)
Neospora (Other)
Plasmodium (Other)
Theileria (Other)
Toxoplasma (B)
Trichomonas (Other)
Trypanosoma (Other) Anopheles gambiae (Other)
Anopheles species (x16) (Other)
Aedes aegypti (Other)
Biomphalaria glabrata (Other)
Culex quinquefasciatus (Other)
Glossina species (x5) (Other)
Ixodes scapularis (Other)
Lutzomyia longipalpis (Other)
Musca domestica (Other)
Pediculus humanus (Other)
Phlebotomus papatasi (Other)

Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center BV-BRC J. Craig Venter Institute

University of Chicago

 All pathogenic bacteria and viruses Influenza Virus (flu) (C)

Arenaviridae (A)
Bunyaviridae (A)
Filoviridae (A)
Flaviviridae (A)
Poxviridae (A)
Caliciviridae (B)
Togaviridae (B)
Hepatitis A virus (B)
Coronaviridae (C)
Paramyxoviridae (C)
Lyssavirus (C)
Hepatitis E
Herpesviridae
Reoviridae Bacillus (A)
Bartonella (Group I)
Borrelia (Group I)
Brucella (B)
Burkholderia (B)
Campylobacter (B)
Chlamydophila (B)
Clostridium (A)
Coxiella (B)
Ehrlichia (Group I)
Escherichia (B)
Francisella (A)
Helicobacter (Group I)
Listeria (B)
Mycobacterium (C)
Rickettsia (B, C)
Salmonella (B)
Shigella (B)
Staphylococcus (B)
Vibrio (B)
Yersinia (A, B)
Other Bacteria

See also

References

  1. ↑ Overview, Bioinformatics Resource Centers Archived May 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), January 10, 2008.
  2. ↑ CDC Bioterrorism Agents and Diseases (By Category) Archived 2014-07-22 at the Wayback Machine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Department of Health and Human Services), accessed July 8, 2008.
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