ToolUniverse

HLA gene-family analysis and MHC-peptide binding for transplant compatibility, vaccine epitope coverage, and cancer immunotherapy. Uses IMGT (HLA polymorphism), IEDB (epitope-MHC binding), UniProt (annotation), DGIdb (druggability). Use for HLA typing/imputation review, vaccine HLA coverage, and immunotherapy prediction biomarkers (HLA-LOH, neoantigen presentation).

Discover causal genes for diseases/traits from GWAS data using Open Targets L2G (locus-to-gene) scoring — integrates eQTL, chromatin interaction, and distance evidence. Use for trait-to-gene mapping, drug-target hypothesis generation from GWAS, and replacing the 'nearest gene' heuristic with multi-evidence L2G scores.

Compare GWAS studies, perform meta-analyses across cohorts, and assess signal replication. Uses GWAS Catalog metadata, study-level statistics, and cross-cohort comparison. Use for evaluating GWAS reproducibility for a trait, meta-analysis sample size and effect-size aggregation, and detecting study heterogeneity (population, design, ancestry).

Interpret a single GWAS SNP across multiple databases — GWAS Catalog hits, LD/haplotype context, eQTL evidence, regulatory annotation, ClinVar pathogenicity, gnomAD frequency. Use for 'what does this SNP do', SNP-to-mechanism tracing, and resolving lead-SNP-vs-causal-variant ambiguity. Always considers LD structure before claiming a SNP is mechanistically responsible.

Statistical fine-mapping of GWAS loci using credible sets (SuSiE, FINEMAP) and locus-to-gene scoring (Open Targets L2G). Identifies likely causal variants and target genes — distinct from positional 'nearest gene' which is often wrong. Use for prioritizing causal variants at GWAS hits, comparing fine-mapping methods, and converting lead SNPs to target genes.

Transform GWAS signals into drug targets and repurposing opportunities. Connects GWAS-significant loci to causal genes via fine-mapping/eQTL, then to druggable proteins via DGIdb/OpenTargets, then to existing drugs via ChEMBL. Use for GWAS-to-target hypothesis generation, druggable-fraction analysis of disease loci, and human-genetics-validated drug-repurposing prioritization.

GPCR receptor pharmacology — agonist/antagonist/inverse-agonist/biased-agonist classification, GPCRdb structural data, receptor-ligand binding analysis, antibody-target interface (SAbDab). Use for GPCR drug discovery, biased-agonism analysis, receptor subtype selectivity questions, and orthosteric vs allosteric pocket characterization.

Gene regulatory network analysis — TF-target inference (JASPAR motifs, ChIP-seq), motif scanning, eQTL integration, perturbation evidence (knockout/overexpression). Use for 'which TF regulates gene X', 'which genes does TF Y target', regulatory pathway reconstruction. Distinguishes direct (binding) vs indirect (co-expression) regulatory evidence.

Gene-set enrichment analysis — GO (Biological Process, Molecular Function, Cellular Component), KEGG, Reactome pathway enrichment via clusterProfiler, gseapy, ORA, GSEA. Use for interpreting DEG lists, screen hit lists, or any gene-list-to-pathways query. Includes simplify-cutoff handling and union-vs-total denominator conventions for percent-DE questions.

Gene-disease association analysis across DisGeNET, OpenTargets, Monarch, OMIM, GenCC, Orphanet. Cross-references multiple sources for evidence-graded association reports with concordance scoring (5/5 sources agree → strong, 1/5 → weak). Use for 'which diseases is gene X associated with' or 'which genes cause disease Y' queries with quantitative confidence.

Interpret hits from CRISPR-KO/CRISPRi/shRNA screens by integrating DepMap essentiality, gnomAD constraint scores, pathway context (Reactome, STRING), druggability (DGIdb), and clinical evidence (CIViC, COSMIC). Use for screen-hit prioritization, essentiality ranking, and turning a list of screen hits into a prioritized target shortlist.

Retrieve gene expression and omics datasets from ArrayExpress and BioStudies with gene disambiguation and quality assessment. Use for finding RNA-seq/microarray datasets by organism/tissue/condition, comparing across studies (case-control, time-series, dose-response), and assessing dataset suitability before downloading. Always uses English search terms.

Genomics and epigenomics analysis: DNA methylation (CpG, 5mC, 5hmC, bisulfite, RRBS), m6A RNA modification (MeRIP-seq), ChIP-seq peaks, ATAC-seq accessibility, histone modifications, chromatin state, multi-omics integration. Combines pandas/scipy/pysam computation with ToolUniverse annotation tools. Use for genome-wide epigenomic statistics, methylation analysis, and chromatin-genome integration.

Histone-modification ChIP-seq, ATAC-seq accessibility, chromatin state, and TF binding analysis from ENCODE, Roadmap Epigenomics, ChIP-Atlas. Use for chromatin-state-by-tissue queries, TF-binding-by-region, regulatory landscape mapping, and ENCODE-cCRE annotations. For DNA methylation use tooluniverse-epigenomics; for RNA-seq use tooluniverse-rnaseq-deseq2.

End-to-end observational epidemiology analysis — from research question (PECO Population/Exposure/Comparator/Outcome) to publication-ready statistical report. Covers cohort/case-control/cross-sectional design, regression with confounders, propensity scoring, sensitivity analysis. Writes Python code for every step. Use for epidemiology study analysis, NHANES/UK-Biobank-style analyses.

Enzyme kinetics — Michaelis-Menten Km, Vmax, kcat (turnover), and kcat/Km (catalytic efficiency / specificity constant) from substrate-velocity data, plus inhibition-mechanism analysis (competitive / uncompetitive / non-competitive, Ki). Fits the MM equation by nonlinear regression (and reports Lineweaver-Burk for reference). Use when you have substrate concentrations and initial reaction velocities and need kinetic parameters or to classify an inhibitor. NOT for BRENDA database lookups of published constants (use the BRENDA tools).

Search and analyze electron microscopy data — cryo-EM density maps (EMDB), fitted atomic models (PDB), raw micrograph datasets (EMPIAR), and cryo-electron tomography volumes (CryoET Data Portal). Use for finding 3D structural data on a protein/complex, comparing experimental EM resolution to AlphaFold confidence, and accessing raw EM data for re-processing.

Ecology, biodiversity, and conservation biology research — species identification (GBIF, NCBI Taxonomy), invasive species impact, ecosystem dynamics, conservation status (IUCN), niche ecology. Use for biodiversity questions, species comparison, invasion biology, conservation prioritization, and ecology-related literature search.

Quantitative drug-target validation pipeline. Scores druggability, selectivity, safety profile, ADMET feasibility, and structural tractability with a composite Target Validation Score (0-100) and GO/NO-GO recommendation. Use for go/no-go decisions on a target before commit-to-medchem, target prioritization across a list, and target-deselection rationale.

Drug-combination synergy analysis — quantify whether two drugs together are synergistic, additive, or antagonistic using the standard reference models (Bliss independence, HSA / highest single agent, Loewe additivity, ZIP, and the Chou-Talalay Combination Index). Use when you have measured single-drug and combination effects (inhibition/viability) and need a synergy score. Explains which model to use, what data each one needs, and how to read the score. NOT for looking up pre-computed synergy in a database (use the SYNERGxDB tool / cell-line-profiling skill).

Comprehensive drug profiling — mechanism, primary/secondary targets, drug interactions, clinical-trial status, adverse events (FAERS), pharmacogenomics, and approval history. Use for full drug investigation reports, 'tell me about drug X' queries, and assembling drug profiles for clinicians, researchers, or regulatory work.

Identify drug repurposing candidates via target-based, compound-based, and disease-based strategies. Combines drug-target-disease network reasoning with mechanism rationale, clinical-trial precedent, and patent/regulatory feasibility. Use for hypothesis-generating repurposing for orphan diseases, finding existing drugs for new indications, and prioritizing candidates by evidence and feasibility.

Drug regulatory and approval research — FDA substance registry, ATC/EPC classification, EMA decisions, generic-drug status, FDA Orange Book exclusivity, NDA/BLA pathways. Use for jurisdiction-aware approval status (FDA vs EMA), generic vs brand availability, exclusivity expiry tracking, and regulatory pathway selection. Always specifies the market when reporting status.

Trace drug mechanism of action — primary target → downstream signaling → pathway perturbation → tissue/organ effect → clinical outcome. Uses DrugBank, ChEMBL, KEGG, Reactome, STRING. Use for understanding how a drug works, identifying off-target effects, mechanism-based combination therapy design, and writing mechanism sections of reports.

Assess drug-drug interactions — CYP metabolic interactions (substrate/inhibitor/inducer), transporter (P-gp, BCRP, OATP) effects, pharmacodynamic synergy/antagonism, clinical significance scoring, and management recommendations. Use for polypharmacy review, prescribing decision support, and safety analysis when adding or switching drugs.