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Innovative Medicines & Omics Open source bioinformatics tools in Africa

bioinformatics tools, and studies encompassing the fields (e.g., how structural biology tools support disease research
of genomics, drug discovery, and disease surveillance. or agricultural advancements) for a more comprehensive
insight.
2.2. Data categorization
Data was organized into three key categories: (i) genomics 2.4. Case study selection
(human and agricultural genomic studies), (ii) infectious Representative examples were chosen from impactful
disease research (viral genome analysis), and (iii) drug case studies illustrating the use of open-source tools and
discovery (molecular docking studies), as visualized PDB contributions in real-world African contexts. For
in Figure 2, with supplementary integration of PDB validation, the findings were cross-checked with multiple
structures. The findings were correlated with PDB data sources to ensure they were accurate and relevant.
where applicable, ensuring protein structures relevant to
African studies are included in the analysis. 3. Results

2.3. Data analysis 3.1. Genomics applications
Thematic analysis (Figure 3) revealed critical insights 3.1.1. Human genomics
(success stories), including infrastructure challenges, An extensive genomic analysis was conducted focusing on
training needs, and the role of structural biology tools Nigerian populations to uncover genetic variations linked
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in African research contexts. Following the thematic to sickle cell anemia. Using bioinformatics tools such as
analysis, PDB data were linked to the thematic categories FastQC for quality control and Burrow–Wheeler Aligner

Figure 2. Phylogeny of four severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 strains isolated from Senegal. Reproduced from Dia et al. 59

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 54 doi: 10.36922/imo.8111