Fiona Brinkman

Dr. Fiona Brinkman

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

28Years (1999-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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31 August 2000 in Nature
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CSC. K. Stover
C. K. Stover
XPX. Q. Pham
X. Q. Pham
AEA. L. Erwin
A. L. Erwin
SMS. D. Mizoguchi
S. D. Mizoguchi
PWP. Warrener
P. Warrener
MOM. V. Olson
M. V. Olson
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium that is one of the top three causes of opportunistic human infections. A major factor in its prominence as a pathogen is its intrinsic resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. Here we report the complete sequence of P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. At 6.3 million base pairs, this is the largest bacterial genome sequenced, and the sequence provides insights into the basis of the versatility and intrinsic drug resistance of P. aeruginosa. Consistent with its larger genome size and environmental adaptability, P. aeruginosa contains the highest proportion of regulatory genes observed for a bacterial genome and a large number of genes involved in the catabolism, transport and efflux of organic compounds as well as four potential chemotaxis systems. We propose that the size and complexity of the P. aeruginosa genome reflect an evolutionary adaptation permitting it to thrive in diverse environments and resist the effects of a variety of antimicrobial substances.

29 October 2019 in Nucleic Acids Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BABrian P Alcock
Brian P Alcock
ARAmogelang R Raphenya
Amogelang R Raphenya
TLTammy T Y Lau
Tammy T Y Lau
KTKara K Tsang
Kara K Tsang
MBMégane Bouchard
Mégane Bouchard
Andrew McArthurAndrew McArthur
Andrew McArthur
The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD; https://card.mcmaster.ca) is a curated resource providing reference DNA and protein sequences, detection models and bioinformatics tools on the molecular basis of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR). CARD focuses on providing high-quality reference data and molecular sequences within a controlled vocabulary, the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology (ARO), designed by the CARD biocuration team to integrate with software development efforts for resistome analysis and prediction, such as CARD’s Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) software. Since 2017, CARD has expanded through extensive curation of reference sequences, revision of the ontological structure, curation of over 500 new AMR detection models, development of a new classification paradigm and expansion of analytical tools. Most notably, a new Resistomes & Variants module provides analysis and statistical summary of in silico predicted resistance variants from 82 pathogens and over 100 000 genomes. By adding these resistance variants to CARD, we are able to summarize predicted resistance using the information included in CARD, identify trends in AMR mobility and determine previously undescribed and novel resistance variants. Here, we describe updates and recent expansions to CARD and its biocuration process, including new resources for community biocuration of AMR molecular reference data.

26 October 2016 in Nucleic Acids Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BJBaofeng Jia
Baofeng Jia
ARAmogelang R. Raphenya
Amogelang R. Raphenya
BABrian Alcock
Brian Alcock
NWNicholas Waglechner
Nicholas Waglechner
PGPeiyao Guo
Peiyao Guo
Andrew McArthurAndrew McArthur
Andrew McArthur
The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD; http://arpcard.mcmaster.ca) is a manually curated resource containing high quality reference data on the molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with an emphasis on the genes, proteins and mutations involved in AMR. CARD is ontologically structured, model centric, and spans the breadth of AMR drug classes and resistance mechanisms, including intrinsic, mutation-driven and acquired resistance. It is built upon the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology (ARO), a custom built, interconnected and hierarchical controlled vocabulary allowing advanced data sharing and organization. Its design allows the development of novel genome analysis tools, such as the Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) for resistome prediction from raw genome sequence. Recent improvements include extensive curation of additional reference sequences and mutations, development of a unique Model Ontology and accompanying AMR detection models to power sequence analysis, new visualization tools, and expansion of the RGI for detection of emergent AMR threats. CARD curation is updated monthly based on an interplay of manual literature curation, computational text mining, and genome analysis.

13 May 2010 in Bioinformatics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
NYNancy Y. Yu
Nancy Y. Yu
JWJames R. Wagner
James R. Wagner
MLMatthew R. Laird
Matthew R. Laird
GMGabor Melli
Gabor Melli
SRSébastien Rey
Sébastien Rey
FBFiona Brinkman
Fiona Brinkman
Motivation: PSORTb has remained the most precise bacterial protein subcellular localization (SCL) predictor since it was first made available in 2003. However, the recall needs to be improved and no accurate SCL predictors yet make predictions for archaea, nor differentiate important localization subcategories, such as proteins targeted to a host cell or bacterial hyperstructures/organelles. Such improvements should preferably be encompassed in a freely available web-based predictor that can also be used as a standalone program. Results: We developed PSORTb version 3.0 with improved recall, higher proteome-scale prediction coverage, and new refined localization subcategories. It is the first SCL predictor specifically geared for all prokaryotes, including archaea and bacteria with atypical membrane/cell wall topologies. It features an improved standalone program, with a new batch results delivery system complementing its web interface. We evaluated the most accurate SCL predictors using 5-fold cross validation plus we performed an independent proteomics analysis, showing that PSORTb 3.0 is the most accurate but can benefit from being complemented by Proteome Analyst predictions. Availability:http://www.psort.org/psortb (download open source software or use the web interface). Contact:psort-mail@sfu.ca Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are availableat Bioinformatics online.

2 May 2017 in Nucleic Acids Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CBClaire Bertelli
Claire Bertelli
MLMatthew R Laird
Matthew R Laird
KWKelly P Williams
Kelly P Williams
SGSimon Fraser University Research Computing Group
Simon Fraser University Research Computing Group
BLBritney Y Lau
Britney Y Lau
FBFiona Brinkman
Fiona Brinkman
IslandViewer (http://www.pathogenomics.sfu.ca/islandviewer/) is a widely-used webserver for the prediction and interactive visualization of genomic islands (GIs, regions of probable horizontal origin) in bacterial and archaeal genomes. GIs disproportionately encode factors that enhance the adaptability and competitiveness of the microbe within a niche, including virulence factors and other medically or environmentally important adaptations. We report here the release of IslandViewer 4, with novel features to accommodate the needs of larger-scale microbial genomics analysis, while expanding GI predictions and improving its flexible visualization interface. A user management web interface as well as an HTTP API for batch analyses are now provided with a secured authentication to facilitate the submission of larger numbers of genomes and the retrieval of results. In addition, IslandViewer's integrated GI predictions from multiple methods have been improved and expanded by integrating the precise Islander method for pre-computed genomes, as well as an updated IslandPath-DIMOB for both pre-computed and user-supplied custom genome analysis. Finally, pre-computed predictions including virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance are now available for 6193 complete bacterial and archaeal strains publicly available in RefSeq. IslandViewer 4 provides key enhancements to facilitate the analysis of GIs and better understand their role in the evolution of successful environmental microbes and pathogens.

23 November 2012 in Nucleic Acids Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KBKarin Breuer
Karin Breuer
AFAmir K. Foroushani
Amir K. Foroushani
MLMatthew R. Laird
Matthew R. Laird
CCCarol Chen
Carol Chen
ASAnastasia Sribnaia
Anastasia Sribnaia
DLDavid Lynn
David Lynn
InnateDB (http://www.innatedb.com) is an integrated analysis platform that has been specifically designed to facilitate systems-level analyses of mammalian innate immunity networks, pathways and genes. In this article, we provide details of recent updates and improvements to the database. InnateDB now contains >196 000 human, mouse and bovine experimentally validated molecular interactions and 3000 pathway annotations of relevance to all mammalian cellular systems (i.e. not just immune relevant pathways and interactions). In addition, the InnateDB team has, to date, manually curated in excess of 18 000 molecular interactions of relevance to innate immunity, providing unprecedented insight into innate immunity networks, pathways and their component molecules. More recently, InnateDB has also initiated the curation of allergy- and asthma-related interactions. Furthermore, we report a range of improvements to our integrated bioinformatics solutions including web service access to InnateDB interaction data using Proteomics Standards Initiative Common Query Interface, enhanced Gene Ontology analysis for innate immunity, and the availability of new network visualizations tools. Finally, the recent integration of bovine data makes InnateDB the first integrated network analysis platform for this agriculturally important model organism.