Improving biosecurity diagnostics with standardised workflows and interactive visualisation

The QCIF's Data Science team has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Australian BioCommons in a nation-wide project aimed at transforming biosecurity diagnostics by making standardised bioinformatics workflows and interactive reports accessible to all DAFF biosecurity sites.

Scientists from DAFF’s Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) will collaborate with QCIF’s ‘omics analysis and software specialists, QUT bioinformatics experts and Australian BioCommons infrastructure operators to standardise complex workflows, enabling biosecurity staff to access these sophisticated tools readily and adopt in the day-today business in the ongoing protection of our national flora and fauna and economic interests.

“By enabling standardised bioinformatics workflows and interactive visualisations, we are empowering biosecurity professionals to make informed decisions swiftly and accurately”, said Dr Dom Gorse, Director of Data Science at QCIF.

This initiative not only strengthens Australia's diagnostic capabilities but also sets a new benchmark for quality and innovation in biosecurity, aligning seamlessly with QCIF’s mission to leverage premier infrastructure resources and cutting-edge data science expertise to drive innovation.

Adjunct Professor and CEO of QCIF, Sach Jayasinghe noted: "While technological advances are moving at a rapid pace, its adoption in the community is not a trivial challenge. This project highlights how QCIF and its partners can have real world impact by taking the research know-how into application in an essential government service".

DNA to Decisions: Concise communication of genomics data for easier decision making

Bioinformatics has become essential in the realm of biosecurity, particularly in addressing challenging requirements such as fast species identification turnaround times, and complex taxonomic assignments.

Despite the promise of sequencing technologies, their routine application has been limited by the need for highly specialised skills and equipment.

The project “DNA to Decisions: Concise communication of genomics data for easier decision making” seeks to address these challenges by packaging four validated DNA workflows into user-friendly interfaces, creating a platform that will improve quality assurance and accountability in genomics data.

These interfaces will allow the current biosecurity workforce, including plant pathologists and entomologists, to conduct efficient data analysis without extensive bioinformatics expertise.

In addition to streamlining workflows, the project includes training operational staff to manage and troubleshoot the new systems. Comprehensive instructional materials will also be developed, ensuring that the new processes can be seamlessly integrated into daily operations.

As this initiative moves forward, it is expected to significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of biosecurity diagnostics, providing a vital boost to the field's ability to respond to emerging challenges and setting a new standard for quality and innovation in the sector.