Bioinformatics and Computational Biology

The course will introduce computational approaches recently developed for studying biological systems with a focus on biotechnological applications: the identification of essential genes (Tn-Seq and network analysis), or genes that are involved in interesting processes (Tn-Seq) together with methods to study gene regulation (ChIP-Seq, small RNAs). On these premises we will then discuss how to engineer eco-systems (community engineering) and how metabolic optimization can be achieved (model-guided metabolic engineering).
An introduction to computational methods for the characterization of protein structures, with biochemical basis.

The course will introduce students to the computational techniques that are at the basis of the identification of important genes in Tn-seq datasets and to the structural analysis of networks with the aim of identifying genes that can be manipulated for specific objectives. Techniques to study gene regulation will also be discussed (ChIP-Seq, sRNA).

In the part of the course relating to the computational study of proteins, the student will learn the biochemical and biophysical bases on which the secondary and tertiary structure prediction algorithms, structural disorder and protein dynamics are based. The student will also directly perform a series of prediction tests by learning to use structural analysis and prediction programs.