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Mohamed SB, Kambal S, Ibrahim SAE, Abdalwhab E, Munir A, Ibrahim A, Ali QM. Bioinformatics in Sudan: Status and challenges case study: The National University-Sudan. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009462. [PMID: 34673773 PMCID: PMC8530284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ever increasing applications of bioinformatics in providing effective interpretation of large and complex biological data require expertise in the use of sophisticated computational tools and advanced statistical tests, skills that are mostly lacking in the Sudanese research community. This can be attributed to paucity in the development and promotion of bioinformatics, lack of senior bioinformaticians, and the general status quo of inadequate research funding in Sudan. In this paper, we describe the challenges that have encountered the development of bioinformatics as a discipline in Sudan. Additionally, we highlight on specific actions that may help develop and promote its education and training. The paper takes the National University Biomedical Research Institute (NUBRI) as an example of an institute that has tackled many of these challenges and strives to drive powerful efforts in the development of bioinformatics in the country. Bioinformatics is gaining recognition globally and in Sudan as an important subdiscipline of biological sciences, one that enables researchers to efficiently interpret complex biological data. A limited number of Sudanese academic institutions have acknowledged this field despite its increasingly recognized importance. The development of bioinformatics in the country requires interdisciplinary collaborations involving experts in life sciences, research methodology, healthcare, computer, and data sciences. This can be achieved through designing educational programs and workshops alongside proposing and establishing effective collaborative research projects. In this context, we comprehensively discussed the present state of bioinformatics in Sudan, the challenges faced, as well as the efforts exerted by academic institutions including NUBRI, to upgrade infrastructure and establish local and international collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia B. Mohamed
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
- * E-mail:
| | - Sumaya Kambal
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sabah A. E. Ibrahim
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Esra Abdalwhab
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Abdalla Munir
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Arwa Ibrahim
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Qurashi Mohamed Ali
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Department, National University Biomedical Research Institute, National University-Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan
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Rotimi SO, Rotimi OA, Salhia B. A Review of Cancer Genetics and Genomics Studies in Africa. Front Oncol 2021; 10:606400. [PMID: 33659210 PMCID: PMC7917259 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.606400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and is projected to overtake infectious disease as the leading cause of mortality in Africa within the next two decades. Cancer is a group of genomic diseases that presents with intra- and inter-population unique phenotypes, with Black populations having the burden of morbidity and mortality for most types. At large, the prevention and treatment of cancers have been propelled by the understanding of the genetic make-up of the disease of mostly non-African populations. By the same token, there is a wide knowledge gap in understanding the underlying genetic causes of, and genomic alterations associated with, cancer among black Africans. Accordingly, we performed a review of the literature to survey existing studies on cancer genetics/genomics and curated findings pertaining to publications across multiple cancer types conducted on African populations. We used PubMed MeSH terms to retrieve the relevant publications from 1990 to December 2019. The metadata of these publications were extracted using R text mining packages: RISmed and Pubmed.mineR. The data showed that only 0.329% of cancer publications globally were on Africa, and only 0.016% were on cancer genetics/genomics from Africa. Although the most prevalent cancers in Africa are cancers of the breast, cervix, uterus, and prostate, publications representing breast, colorectal, liver, and blood cancers were the most frequent in our review. The most frequently reported cancer genes were BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53. Next, the genes reported in the reviewed publications’ abstracts were extracted and annotated into three gene ontology classes. Genes in the cellular component class were mostly associated with cell part and organelle part, while those in biological process and molecular function classes were mainly associated with cell process, biological regulation, and binding, and catalytic activity, respectively. Overall, this review highlights the paucity of research on cancer genomics on African populations, identified gaps, and discussed the need for concerted efforts to encourage more research on cancer genomics in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon O Rotimi
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Oluwakemi A Rotimi
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria
| | - Bodour Salhia
- Department of Translational Genomics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Norris Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Friebel TM, Andrulis IL, Balmaña J, Blanco AM, Couch FJ, Daly MB, Domchek SM, Easton DF, Foulkes WD, Ganz PA, Garber J, Glendon G, Greene MH, Hulick PJ, Isaacs C, Jankowitz RC, Karlan BY, Kirk J, Kwong A, Lee A, Lesueur F, Lu KH, Nathanson KL, Neuhausen SL, Offit K, Palmero EI, Sharma P, Tischkowitz M, Toland AE, Tung N, van Rensburg EJ, Vega A, Weitzel JN, Hoskins KF, Maga T, Parsons MT, McGuffog L, Antoniou AC, Chenevix-Trench G, Huo D, Olopade OI, Rebbeck TR. BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic sequence variants in women of African origin or ancestry. Hum Mutat 2019; 40:1781-1796. [PMID: 31112363 PMCID: PMC6764847 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) pathogenic sequence variants (PSVs) confer elevated risks of multiple cancers. However, most BRCA1/2 PSVs reports focus on European ancestry individuals. Knowledge of the PSV distribution in African descent individuals is poorly understood. We undertook a systematic review of the published literature and publicly available databases reporting BRCA1/2 PSVs also accessed the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 (CIMBA) database to identify African or African descent individuals. Using these data, we inferred which of the BRCA PSVs were likely to be of African continental origin. Of the 43,817 BRCA1/2 PSV carriers in the CIMBA database, 469 (1%) were of African descent. Additional African descent individuals were identified in public databases (n = 291) and the literature (n = 601). We identified 164 unique BRCA1 and 173 unique BRCA2 PSVs in individuals of African ancestry. Of these, 83 BRCA1 and 91 BRCA2 PSVs are of likely or possible African origin. We observed numerous differences in the distribution of PSV type and function in African origin versus non-African origin PSVs. Research in populations of African ancestry with BRCA1/2 PSVs is needed to provide the information needed for clinical management and decision-making in African descent individuals worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara M. Friebel
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Boston, MA: USA; 02115
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston, MA: USA; 02215
| | - Irene L. Andrulis
- Fred A. Litwin Center for Cancer Genetics. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital. Toronto, ON: Canada; M5G 1X5
- Department of Molecular Genetics. University of Toronto. Toronto, ON: Canada; M5S 1A8
| | - Judith Balmaña
- High Risk and Cancer Prevention Group. Vall dHebron Institute of Oncology, University Hospital Vall dHebron. Barcelona: Spain; 08035
| | - Amie M. Blanco
- Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program. University of California San Francisco. San Francisco, CA: USA; 94143-1714
| | - Fergus J. Couch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. Mayo Clinic. Rochester, MN: USA; 55905
| | - Mary B. Daly
- Department of Clinical Genetics. Fox Chase Cancer Center. Philadelphia, PA: USA; 19111
| | - Susan M. Domchek
- Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: USA; 19104
| | - Douglas F. Easton
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Oncology. University of Cambridge. Cambridge: UK; CB1 8RN
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care. University of Cambridge. Cambridge: UK; CB1 8RN
| | - William D. Foulkes
- Program in Cancer Genetics, Departments of Human Genetics and Oncology. McGill University. Montréal, QC: Canada; H4A 3J1
| | - Patricia A. Ganz
- Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Division of Cancer Prevention & Control Research. Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre, UCLA. Los Angeles, CA: USA; 90096-6900
| | - Judy Garber
- Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston, MA: USA; 02215
| | - Gord Glendon
- Fred A. Litwin Center for Cancer Genetics. Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mount Sinai Hospital. Toronto, ON: Canada; M5G 1X5
| | - Mark H. Greene
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD: USA; 20850-9772
| | - Peter J. Hulick
- Center for Medical Genetics. NorthShore University HealthSystem. Evanston, IL: USA; 60201
- The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Chicago, IL: USA; 60637
| | - Claudine Isaacs
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University. Washington, DC: USA; 20007
| | - Rachel C. Jankowitz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology. UPMC Hillman Cancer Center; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Pittsburgh: USA; PA 15232
| | - Beth Y. Karlan
- Womens Cancer Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Los Angeles, CA: USA; 90048
| | - Judy Kirk
- Familial Cancer Service. Weatmead Hospital. Vol P.O. Box 533. Wentworthville, New South Wales: Australia; 2145
| | - Ava Kwong
- Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry. Cancer Genetics Centre. Happy Valley: Hong Kong
- Department of Surgery. The University of Hong Kong. Pok Fu Lam: Hong Kong
- Department of Surgery. Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital. Happy Valley: Hong Kong
| | - Annette Lee
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Manhasset, NY: USA; 11030
| | - Fabienne Lesueur
- Genetic Epidemiology of Cancer team. Inserm U900. Paris: France; 75005
- Service de Génétique. Institut Curie. Paris: France; 75005
- Institut Curie. Paris: France; 75005
- Mines ParisTech. Fontainebleau: France; 77305
| | - Karen H. Lu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology and Clinical Cancer Genetics Program. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Houston, TX: USA; 77030
| | - Katherine L. Nathanson
- Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA: USA; 19104
| | - Susan L. Neuhausen
- Department of Population Sciences. Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope. Duarte, CA: USA; 91010
| | - Kenneth Offit
- Clinical Genetics Research Lab, Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. New York, NY: USA; 10065
- Clinical Genetics Service, Department of Medicine. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. New York, NY: USA; 10065
| | - Edenir I. Palmero
- Molecular Oncology Research Center. Barretos Cancer Hospital. São Paulo: Brazil; 784-400
- Barretos School of Health Sciences, Dr. Paulo Prata - FACISB. São Paulo: Brazil; 785-002
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology. University of Kansas Medical Center. Westwood, KS: USA; 66205
| | - Marc Tischkowitz
- Program in Cancer Genetics, Departments of Human Genetics and Oncology. McGill University. Montréal, QC: Canada; H4A 3J1
- Department of Medical Genetics. University of Cambridge. Vol Box 134, Level 6 Addenbrookes Treatment Centre, Addenbrookes Hosptital. Cambridge: UK; CB2 0QQ
| | - Amanda E. Toland
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics. The Ohio State University. Columbus, OH: USA; 43210
| | - Nadine Tung
- Department of Medical Oncology. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Boston, MA: USA; 02215
| | | | - Ana Vega
- Fundación Pública Galega Medicina Xenómica. Santiago De Compostela: Spain; 15706
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela. Santiago De Compostela: Spain; 15706
- Biomedical Network on Rare Diseases (CIBERER). Madrid: Spain; 28029
| | | | | | - Kent F. Hoskins
- Department of Medicine. University of Illinois. Chicago, IL: USA
| | - Tara Maga
- Department of Medicine. University of Illinois. Chicago, IL: USA
| | - Michael T. Parsons
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. Vol Locked Bag 2000, Herston, QLD 4029. Brisbane, Queensland: Australia; 4006
| | - Lesley McGuffog
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care. University of Cambridge. Cambridge: UK; CB1 8RN
| | - Antonis C. Antoniou
- Centre for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Primary Care. University of Cambridge. Cambridge: UK; CB1 8RN
| | - Georgia Chenevix-Trench
- Department of Genetics and Computational Biology. QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. Vol Locked Bag 2000, Herston, QLD 4029. Brisbane, Queensland: Australia; 4006
| | - Dezheng Huo
- Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics. The University of Chicago. Chicago, IL: USA; 60637
| | | | - Timothy R. Rebbeck
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Boston, MA: USA; 02115
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Boston, MA: USA; 02215
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