BioWAP, mobile Internet service for bioinformatics

MACBenAbim: A Multi-platform Mobile Application for searching keyterms in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Computational biology and bioinformatics are gradually gaining grounds in Africa and other developing nations of the world. However, in these countries, some of the challenges of computational biology and bioinformatics education are inadequate infrastructures, and lack of readily-available complementary and motivational tools to support learning as well as research. This has lowered the morale of many promising undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers from aspiring to undertake future study in these fields. In this paper, we developed and described MACBenAbim (Multi-platform Mobile Application for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics), a flexible user-friendly tool to search for, define and describe the meanings of keyterms in computational biology and bioinformatics, thus expanding the frontiers of knowledge of the users. This tool also has the capability of achieving visualization of results on a mobile multi-platform context.

AVAILABILITY

MACBenAbim is available from the authors for non-commercial purposes.

Distribution of immunodeficiency fact files with XML--from Web to WAP

BACKGROUND

Although biomedical information is growing rapidly, it is difficult to find and retrieve validated data especially for rare hereditary diseases. There is an increased need for services capable of integrating and validating information as well as proving it in a logically organized structure. A XML-based language enables creation of open source databases for storage, maintenance and delivery for different platforms.

METHODS

Here we present a new data model called fact file and an XML-based specification Inherited Disease Markup Language (IDML), that were developed to facilitate disease information integration, storage and exchange. The data model was applied to primary immunodeficiencies, but it can be used for any hereditary disease. Fact files integrate biomedical, genetic and clinical information related to hereditary diseases.

RESULTS

IDML and fact files were used to build a comprehensive Web and WAP accessible knowledge base ImmunoDeficiency Resource (IDR) available at http://bioinf.uta.fi/idr/. A fact file is a user oriented user interface, which serves as a starting point to explore information on hereditary diseases.

CONCLUSION

The IDML enables the seamless integration and presentation of genetic and disease information resources in the Internet. IDML can be used to build information services for all kinds of inherited diseases. The open source specification and related programs are available at http://bioinf.uta.fi/idml/.

Mobile access to biological databases on the Internet

We have developed a new way of accessing biological databases and bioinformatics applications on the Internet. This new service, bioinformatics wireless application protocol (BioWAP) service, which is accessible by mobile devices makes it possible to access bioinformatics services, where normal PC or personal digital assistant (PDA) connections are not feasible. The BioWAP service includes major biological databases and applications demonstrating a simple method of implementing WAP interfaces to uncompliant applications, i.e. the applications that are not WAP or Internet based. The BioWAP service can be browsed with any WAP terminal.