Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA)

Halle’s bioinformatics and data analyticsresearch group
@UniHalle | @DZIF_

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Anyone who has curated GEMs knows how tedious mass and charge balancing can be — MCC was built to drastically reduce the manual effort in this step.
Thanks to @reihaneh_mo for leading this project!

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

Our new paper in Microbiology Spectrum 🎉
We present the Python tool MCC, which automates the cumbersome mass and charge curation of genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs), and demonstrate its capabilities using a model of Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum.
https://t.co/Xptz00Kdr6

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

@HadeerElhabashy Congratulations and welcome back!

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

We presented recent work at COBRA 2026:
✓ Tools for systematic reconstruction & curation of GEMs, enabling AI-supported analysis across biological systems.
✓ With refineGEMs and SPECIMEN, we focus on standardization, reproducibility, and scalable multi-omics data integration.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

At COBRA 2026, I presented our work on model reconstruction & curation tools enabling AI-supported analysis of biological systems, followed by applications in respiratory health and infections and in renewable energy via microbial biocatalysts.
Great discussions and organization!

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Dario Eltzner from our group highlighted his recent work on harnessing data resources and AI methods for computational modeling in systems biology.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

@UniHalle Dario Eltzner from @UniHalle presenting “Semantic Testing of Metabolic Model Predictions” at the German Conference on Bioinformatics.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Carolin Brune from our research group gave a talk about her automated reconstruction software SPECIMEN at the Central German Conference on Bioinformatics in Halle.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

Carolin Brune from @UniHalle introduces “SPECIMEN and refineGEMs: Open-Source Python Tools for Streamlined Metabolic Modelling” at the Central German Conference on Bioinformatics.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

The first session of today at the Central German Conference on Bioinformatics featured a keynote by @EddaKlipp and was chaired by Andreas Dräger, also introducing two presentations from our research group.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

@EddaKlipp from @HumboldtUni gives the first keynote speech of the second day of the Central German Conference on Bioinformatics about “Thermodynamically Explicit (TDE) Kinetics”.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

International teamwork for sustainable biotech 🌍
Integrating bioprocessing & metabolic modeling for PHB production.
Thanks to @ascenciomarthaL, @HowardR_Malule (University of Valle 🇨🇴), and partners at the Catholic University of the Maule 🇨🇱 & Kiel University 🇩🇪!

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

How can we make bioplastics more efficient?
In our new paper, we show: it’s not just what you feed; it’s when you feed.
Combining fed-batch pulse feeding with flux balance analysis reveals how timing and N-limitation drive PHB accumulation in C. necator.
https://t.co/3J6d2KGiBk

[SysMod @cosi_sysmod]

We are deeply saddened by the passing of @ChaouiyaC (1969–2025) – a cherished member of our community and coordinator (2018-2022), contributing with expertise & kindness. Her work on logical modeling of regulatory networks & dedication to SysMod left a lasting mark. We miss her.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Our research group for Bioinformatics & Data Analytics at MLU Halle-Wittenberg @UniHalle has a new logo!
DNA for life sciences, networks for systems biology and data analytics, colors for natural sciences and medicine — all connected by the outer rings.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

The @Google Summer of Code 2025 Mentor Summit took place in Munich 🇩🇪 over two days with over 180 international participants. Thanks to Google for the opportunity to present the outcomes of the #NRNB projects and to lead a session on #Bioinformatics.
Pictures by Ronit Banerjee.

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

As the representative of the National Resource for Network Biology (#NRNB) at the Google Mentor Summit in Munich 🇩🇪, I am excited to present the outcomes of our Google Summer of Code (#GSoC) projects today and to lead the session on Computational Biology/Bioinformatics.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Einige Eindrücke von der #ISMBECCB2025 in Liverpool, zu der über 2½-tausend Teilnehmer angereist waren – darunter auch ehemalige Gruppenmitglieder & namhafte Forscher wie der Nobelpreisträger John Jumper. Unsere Arbeitsgruppe war an der Organisation der SysMod-Sektion beteiligt.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Well done, Anastasiia Grekova 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
She previously wrote her bachelor thesis in our lab and then published the results with us as a journal paper.
Today she presented her work as a PhD student at @embl about a large-scale meta genetics data collection at #ISMBECCB2025.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Wir freuen uns, folgendes mitzuteilen:
Unsere Forschergruppe konnte letzten Sonntag, am 13. Juli 2025, ihren siebten Gründungstag begehen. 🤩🎉🎊
#MeinXJubiläum

[Prof. Dr. Andreas Dräger @dr_drae]

This week, it was Prof. Stephan-Scherb from Geology and I's turn to give our inauguration lecture to finally establish ourselves at Faculty of Natural Sciences III. About 80 guests attended. Afterward, there was a cozy celebration where we could exchange ideas across disciplines.

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

We’re attending #ISMBECCB2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom from July 20-24. Who else is going? Register here and don’t miss it! https://t.co/KeBDNkHKeO

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

We discovered two antiviral compounds and proved their activity against four viruses: influenzae, respiratory syndrome, SARS-CoV-2, and Dengue – demonstrating how scientists from diverse areas can collaborate using computer models & laboratory experiments.
https://t.co/SMkZzVxRh2

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

🚨 Study:
Computer model predicts two antiviral compounds from single-cell data—now patented
✅ Active vs. SARS-CoV-2, RSV, Dengue & Flu A in cell culture
✅ In vivo COVID-19 efficacy shown in hamsters
✅ Broad-spectrum antivirals for pandemic preparedness
https://t.co/Ir9dwIcUDS

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

🎬 Behind the paper — in just 72 seconds!

Dr. Nantia Leonidou (postdoc @DKFZ Heidelberg) and PI Prof. Andreas Dräger (@UniHalle) explain what makes the model iSep23 special and why it matters for infection prevention and precision medicine.

▶️ https://t.co/Rs8YmKnFSd

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

Read in @ASMicrobiology’s #mSystems:
Genome-scale metabolic model of Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 matches in vitro conditions.

Our model, iSep23, helps explore probiotic potential & infection risk — shedding light on this skin-born hospital bug.

https://t.co/1AFgNGhLvc

[Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Team (BioDatA) @DraegerLab]

🏥 S. epidermidis infections are rarely deadly but cost billions yearly in hospital care.

The model iSep23 helps us understand and target these risks, without disrupting the bacterium’s helpful roles.

#PrecisionMedicine #HospitalInfections #SystemsBiology #Bioinformatics