On June 2-5, 2026, Nikita Akimov and Shokhrukh Khasanov, junior researchers, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Pathogenic Microorganisms, and Ivan Gorokhov, research assistant Laboratory of Metagenomic Research, participated at the invitation of the host institution in the four-day International Training Course on Biological Data Integration, Sharing, and Application at the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB).
During the visit, the experts expanded their scientific contacts and learned about current trends in database organization using existing and newly created resources in China, such as the National Genomic Data Center (NGDC). Participants of the International Training Course also received training on using the NGDC as a source of biological data. Part of the school was devoted to NGS methods for prokaryotic genomics research. The lectures covered DNA library preparation and sequencing processes on GeneMind platforms.
Scientists studied the latest trends in transcriptomic and multi-omic research, including multi-omic approaches to cancer research, the creation of multi-omic atlases of human tissues and organs, and the application of spatial transcriptomics and single-cell transcriptomics. Another area of RNA research at CNCB is the bioinformatic study of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including using the specialized LncBook 2.0 sequence database.
Furthermore, Russian scientists learned about cutting-edge research on cyclic RNAs (cRNAs) in eukaryotic cells and the potential for their application in cell biology for long-term gene expression. An updated model of transcription processes in eukaryotes was also presented, reconsidering previous concepts found in modern cell biology textbooks. The scientists were particularly interested in the modern bioinformatics tool Viral Pipe 5.0, designed to predict coronavirus hosts based on the available genome sequence. They also learned about an improved splicing prediction tool.
By participating in the International School the Institute's scientists learned about global trends in microbiological, genetic, molecular biology, and bioinformatics research, advanced tools and databases for biological data analysis, and met with leading scientists working in these fields. The knowledge gained will be applied in the Institute's ongoing research.
