CrocoBLAST

Optimized parallel implementation of local sequence alignment algorithms

Local sequence alignment is a cornerstone of bioinformatics, allowing to compare the amino-acid sequences of different proteins, or the nucleotide sequences of different pieces of DNA. The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) has revolutionized the field of bioinformatics, and is currently implemented in all free and commercial bioinformatics packages. However, with the advent of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and the development of new sequencing techniques, the utility of traditional BLAST implementations is limited. CrocoBLAST combines the accuracy and general applicability of BLAST with computational efficiency, accessibility, and user experience, so that NGS data can be analyzed efficiently even when only modest computational resources are available.


Current version: 1.17.11.25 (Release notes).

Just download, unzip, and run. No installation required. Download currently includes the command line utility, the graphical user interface, and the user manual. For further instructions, please consult the Documentation.

License conditions in accordance with § 11 of Act No. 130/2002 Coll. The owner of the software is Masaryk University, a public university, ID: 00216224. Masaryk University allows companies and individuals to use this software free of charge and without territorial restrictions, in a manner that does not depreciate its value. This permission is granted for the duration of property rights. This software is not subject to special information treatment according to Act No. 412/2005 Coll., as amended. If a person who uses the software under this license offer violates the license terms, the permission to use the software is terminated.

Everything you need to know about how to run CrocoBLAST is summarized in our user manual wiki pages.

The user manual can also be downloaded here and is also included with the application downloads.

Citation

  • Tristão Ramos RJ, Azevedo-Martins AC, Delgado, GS, Silva R, Ürményi TP, Koča J. CrocoBLAST: Running BLAST efficiently in the age of next-generation sequencing. Bioinformatics. 2017 Nov 15;33(22):3648-3651. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx465

CrocoBLAST was initiated at the Biophysics Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and grew into a collaborative project involving the National Centre for Biomolecular Research (NCBR) and Central European Institute for Technology (CEITEC), affiliated with Masaryk University in Brno.

  • CrocoBLAST is currently maintained at NCBR and CEITEC by Ravi Ramos. If you have any inquiries or suggestions regarding CrocoBLAST, please send them to 336141@mail.muni.cz