PolyTB: A web-based resource designed to explore Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) genomic variation at a global scale

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an important global health issue, being the second leading cause of death from an infectious disease worldwide. There is an urgent need for better treatments and vaccines, which in turn require a deeper understanding of the biology of Mtb and epidemiology of TB disease. Knowledge of the genomic variability among Mtb isolates from whole genome sequencing (WGS) could result in such insights, as well as mechanisms of virulence and transmission. Given the large amount of data being generated on a routine basis from Mtb WGS projects, efforts must be focused on data analysis, accessibility and visualisation. There is no tool harbouring genetic polymorphisms derived from WGS projects integrated with geographic distribution, strain type information and population structure visualisation. To fill this gap, we have developed PolyTB, a web-based tool to display Mtb genetic polymorphisms derived from publicly available WGS datasets. The objectives of PolyTB are to: (1) Compile a catalogue of SNPs, small indels and large deletions by employing the state-of-the-art variation discovery software, and (2) Provide the research community with a tool to investigate strain information and variation through interactive genome, world map and phylogenetic browsing views

Keywords