The document introduces bioinformatics as a key discipline that leverages genomic data to facilitate agricultural advancements. The beca-ilri bioinformatics platform offers significant resources, including training, access to databases, and advanced computational capabilities for various research initiatives in crop improvement and disease diagnostics. It specifically highlights ongoing projects aimed at enhancing traits like pest resistance and drought tolerance in crops, as well as developing vaccines for livestock diseases.

1. BecA-ILRI
Bioinformatics Platform
What is Bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics is a rapidly developing branch of Information Technology that seeks to exploit the wealth of genome and
expressed sequence tag (EST) data that has been generated in the last decade. Bioinformatics offers tremendous opportunities
and has great potential to underpin biotechnological solutions to agricultural development constraints.
In short, bioinformatics is the key to understanding the molecule of life, DNA
DNA - Information flow in the molecule of life
AT GATTAT G G A CA CTTCTTT G
AAAAATAAT GAT G G A G CTTTA
G AA G CT GATAACAAAAATTAT
CAA GATTATAAA G CT G A G C CT
Gene G ATAAAACAA G C G AT GTATTA
G AT GTTACTAAATATAATTCA
GT G GTA G ATT GTT G C CATAAA
AATTATTCAACATTTACATCT
G AAT G GTATATTAAT GAAA G A
AAATATAAT GAT GTTC CA G AA
G G A C CAAAAAAT GATTAT G G
ACA CTTCTTT GAAAAATAAT G
AT G G A G CTTTA GAA G CT GAT
AACAAAAATTATCAA G ATT
Cell Chromosome DNA DNA sequence Protein Livestock, crops, microorganisms
Impact of Bioinformatics BecA-ILRI Bioinformatics Platform
for eastern and central Africa
Bioinformatics is the application of information technology and
computer science to the field of molecular biology. Its primary
The BecA-ILRI Bioinformatics Platform provides
application has been in genomics involving large-scale DNA
sequencing. Some areas that have been significantly
advanced computational capabilities in bioinformatics to
influenced include: all BecA-ILRI scientists and provide training in all aspects
of bioinformatics.
Crop improvement
•Nutritional enhancement The platform provides:
•Insect pest resistance access to major sequence databases (USA, EU, etc…)
•Molecular breeding access to specialized hardware and sophisticated
•Drought tolerance commercial and academic software
sophisticated data analysis capabilities
Vaccine and diagnostics access to High performance computing services and
Livestock diseases grids (CGIAR, EU, USA, etc …)
Human diseases
Microbial biotechnology Research Institutes
Design microorganisms for: Universities
Cleaning up waste
Alternative energy
European Molecular Biology Network Web interface
EMBRACE Network of Excellence
Current Projects using Bioinformatics platform e-Infrastructure (EELA, GEANT, EGEE)
Direct access
Advanced Research Institutes (EU, USA) Broadband
Internet
Crop improvement Broadband
Biotechnology applications to combat Cassava Brown Streak Internet
Disease
Development of genetic fingerprints for groundnut and pigeon
pea
Fine mapping of Striga resistance in sorghum
Marker assisted breeding for drought resistance in sorghum
Vaccines and diagnostics Direct access
Integrated response system for emerging infectious diseases in Web services
East Africa
East Coast fever recombinant vaccine development Broadband
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) diagnostic and Internet
vaccine development CGIAR – HPC Grid
Development of new diagnostic assays and epidemiological ILRI – Kenya (64 CPUs) BecA-ILRI
surveillance of viral pathogens of livestock in Africa IRRI – Philippines (16 CPUs) Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics capacity building ICRISAT – India (8CPUs) platform
CIP – Peru (8 CPUs)
ILRI
INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE