Download Bioinformatics-3.19.13

Title: Bioinformatics
Principal Investigator: Ken Wickiser
Biological systems are composed of complex genetic and metabolomic interactions consisting of
numerous dynamic reaction networks and signaling interactions between cellular components.
Complex networks of genetic and molecular interactions within cells are increasingly being
studied for insights into underlying biological mechanisms. This pathway information is vital for
successful quantitative modeling of biological networks and ultimately understanding complex
biological systems. Traditional methods are inadequate to analyze these complex data relating to
biological systems.
In cells, biomolecules are interconnected with each other in a network. The nodes of these
networks are bio-molecules (proteins and metabolites) and the edges are functional relationships
among the nodes (reactions catalyzed by enzymes). These numerous functional relationships
include transcriptional and translational regulation, protein interactions, gene and protein
modifications, and metabolic reactions. The structure of these complex networks can also vary
over time and space constituting “dynamic networks”.
Recently, biological networks have been developed as a platform for integrating and understanding
information from high-throughput experiments (such as next-generation sequencing and DNA
microarrays) for analysis of biological systems. Network analysis is becoming recognized as a
critical tool for successful quantitative modeling of biological systems. An integrated networkbased approach for querying, visualization, and analysis of information systems is necessary for
successful integration of large data bases and ultimately understanding of biological interactions.
Such integrated systems will enhance the cycle of computational model construction and
experimental verification that remains the essence of systems biology.
Our efforts in the Biological Networks section of the Network Science Center at West Point
include the generation of large biological data sets and applying novel and existing Social Network
Analysis algorithms in an effort to characterize the network of interactions between the genes and
metabolites studied experimentally. We are designing a Bioinformatics elective course to be taught
to West Point cadets from various majors who share a desire to generate predictive models of
various biological systems based on these data. To accelerate the development of this
Bioinformatics course and to help generate a core group of bioinformatics researchers at West
Point, we seek to hire a scientist from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for an
Academic Year. This scientist will work with cadets and faculty members at West Point by
teaching in the Department of Chemistry and Life Science and she or he will participate in the
research projects in which the Biological Networks section is currently engaged. By creating a
core group of cadets and faculty interested and engaged in Bioinformatics projects the Network
Science Center will be poised to make major contributions to Army agencies such as the Medical
Research and Materiel Command (MRMC), the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
(WRAIR), and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) on projects ranging from synthetic biology
to infectious disease outbreaks.