SUMMARY: We present a web service for improving characterization of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) from NCBI BLAST outputs, based on a command-line application rboAnalyzer. Briefly, the application extends subject sequences of selected high scoring pairs (HSPs) in BLAST output to their plausible full length, and predicts their homology and secondary structures. The aim of the application is to aid to characterize subject RNAs in HSPs that come uncharacterized in BLAST output. The main advantages of the web-server are easy use and interactive analysis with search, filtering and data export options. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The web server is freely available at rboanalyzer.elixir-czech.cz. The website frontend is implemented in Elm, while backend is implemented in Python and served by Apache.

BACKGROUND: Identifying regulons of sigma factors is a vital subtask of gene network inference. Integrating multiple sources of data is essential for correct identification of regulons and complete gene regulatory networks. Time series of expression data measured with microarrays or RNA-seq combined with static binding experiments (e.g., ChIP-seq) or literature mining may be used for inference of sigma factor regulatory networks. RESULTS: We introduce Genexpi: a tool to identify sigma factors by combining candidates obtained from ChIP experiments or literature mining with time-course gene expression data. While Genexpi can be used to infer other types of regulatory interactions, it was designed and validated on real biological data from bacterial regulons. In this paper, we put primary focus on CyGenexpi: a plugin integrating Genexpi with the Cytoscape software for ease of use. As a part of this effort, a plugin for handling time series data in Cytoscape called CyDataseries has been developed and made available. Genexpi is also available as a standalone command line tool and an R package. CONCLUSIONS: Genexpi is a useful part of gene network inference toolbox. It provides meaningful information about the composition of regulons and delivers biologically interpretable results.

MOTIVATION: The principal motivation was to design an environment for the development of image-analysis applications which would allow the integration of independent modules into one frame and make available tools for their build-up, running, management and mutual communication. RESULTS: The system was designed as modular, consisting of the core and work modules. The system core focuses on overall management and provides a library of classes for build-up of the work modules, their user interface and data communication. The work modules carry practical implementation of algorithms and data structures for the solution of a particular problem, and were implemented as dynamic-link libraries. They are mutually independent and run as individual threads, communicating with each other via a unified mechanism. The environment was designed to simplify the development and testing of new algorithms or applications. An example of implementation for the particular problem of the analysis of two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoretograms is presented. The environment was designed for the Windows NT operating system with the use of Microsoft Foundation Class Library employing the possibilities of C++ programming language. AVAILABILITY: Available on request from the authors.