National microbial pathogen

National microbial pathogen provides curated genomic data and analytical tools for comparative genomics and subsystem-based metabolic reconstruction of selected Category B bacterial pathogens and related genomes.

Key Features:

• Curated genome collection: Contains approximately 50 complete genomes of pathogenic bacteria and over 400 additional genomes spanning three phylogenetic domains for comparative analysis.
• Integration of public genomes and subsystems: Integrates complete public genomes with curated biological subsystems to link genome annotations to functional frameworks.
• Curated biological subsystems: Organizes functional roles into subsystems that provide consistent functional assignments and support reconstruction of metabolic networks.
• Signature Genes tool: Identifies genes common to or distinguishing between two groups of organisms.
• Precomputed gene clustering analyses: Provides precomputed gene clustering results available in tabular and graphic formats.
• Curated essentiality data: Includes essentiality data derived from genome-wide studies to inform analyses of bacterial survival mechanisms.
• Drug target identification and in silico screening: Develops capabilities for drug target identification and high-throughput in silico compound screening.

Scientific Applications:

• Comparative genomics: Enables comparison of pathogenic and non-pathogenic genomes across ~50 complete strains and >400 additional genomes.
• Subsystem and metabolic reconstruction: Supports reconstruction and analysis of metabolic networks using curated functional subsystems.
• Signature gene discovery: Identifies gene sets that are shared or distinct between organism groups for marker and functional studies.
• Essentiality and vulnerability analysis: Uses curated essentiality datasets to investigate genes required for bacterial survival.
• Drug target prioritization and virtual screening: Supports identification and in silico screening of candidate drug targets for pathogen-focused research.
• Category B pathogen research: Supports research specifically focused on selected Category B bacterial pathogens.

Methodology:

Methods explicitly include integration of complete public genomes with curated biological subsystems, precomputed gene clustering analyses, the "Signature Genes" comparative gene identification tool, incorporation of curated essentiality data from genome-wide studies, and in silico compound screening.