BacExplorer: an integrated platform for de novo bacterial genome annotation
Grete Francesca Privitera1, Adriana Antonella Cannata2, Floriana Campanile3
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Bioinformatic Unit, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy.
Bioinformatics Advances
|November 25, 2025
Summary
BacExplorer simplifies bacterial genome analysis for microbiologists. This user-friendly tool enables efficient data annotation from high-throughput sequencing (HTS) without requiring advanced computational skills.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- High-throughput sequencing (HTS) generates large datasets in microbiology.
- Manual annotation of bacterial genomes is challenging and time-consuming.
- Existing analysis tools often require advanced computational expertise.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an accessible tool for bacterial genome analysis.
- To empower users of all skill levels to perform HTS data analysis.
- To streamline the annotation process for microbiologists.
Main Methods:
- Development of BacExplorer, a locally installable application.
- Implementation of a user-friendly interface.
- Generation of interactive HTML reports for analysis results.
Main Results:
- BacExplorer provides an easy-to-use platform for bacterial genome analysis.
- The tool facilitates efficient data annotation for HTS data.
- Users with varying technical backgrounds can perform analyses effectively.
Conclusions:
- BacExplorer overcomes the technical barriers associated with current bioinformatics tools.
- It democratizes bacterial genome analysis for the broader microbiology community.
- The tool enhances the efficiency and accessibility of HTS data interpretation.
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