Insignia

Insignia identifies unique DNA signatures by comparing target genomes to extensive background genomic databases to enable detection and differentiation of specific organisms.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive signature identification: Identifies exhaustive sets of DNA signatures specific to user-specified target genomes while screening against an extensive background database including all sequenced bacterial and viral genomes, the human genome, and other animal and plant genomes.
• Custom target and background sets: Accepts arbitrary sets of target and background genomes for comparative signature discovery.
• Signature filtering: Applies composition-based filters to candidate signatures to select sequences that meet specified criteria.
• Integrated PCR primer design: Generates PCR primer candidates directly from identified signatures to support development of diagnostic assays.

Scientific Applications:

• Microbial diagnostics and genotyping: Provides specific DNA markers and primer candidates for detecting and differentiating microbes in environmental and clinical specimens.
• Pathogen surveillance and outbreak investigation: Supports detection and discrimination of pathogenic strains for surveillance and outbreak response.
• Assay development: Enables development of PCR-based diagnostic assays by supplying signature sequences and primer designs.

Methodology:

Computational pipeline that systematically identifies DNA signatures unique to target genomes by screening candidate sequences against background genomes to ensure absence, and produces PCR primer candidates from identified signatures.