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. 2025 Aug 28;21(8):e1013236.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013236. eCollection 2025 Aug.

Why and how to set up a Bioinformatics Learning Lab (BILL)

Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier  1   2 , Emira Cherif  1 , Marie-Ka Tilak  1 , Arnaud Soulier  3 , Catherine Breton  4   5 , Anthony Boureux  6 , Remy Costa  7 , Xavier Miahle  8 , Clothilde Chenal  1   9 , Floris Schatt  10 , Camelia Sennaoui  6 , Jean-Christophe Avarre  1 , Anne-Sophie Gosselin-Grenet  10
Affiliations

Why and how to set up a Bioinformatics Learning Lab (BILL)

Anna-Sophie Fiston-Lavier et al. PLoS Comput Biol. .
No abstract available

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. BILL project.
A) The project is built on collaboration between bioinformatics and biology students. Its key components include biological sampling, DNA extraction, sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis, supported by the combined efforts of students, researchers, and technical teams. Initial results on CyHV-3 in vitro evolution highlight phenotypes associated with morbidity and mortality variations. A comparative genomic analysis of viral populations from three phenotypes (cell passages) revealed a large deletion of 1,363 bp in the predicted ORF150, associated with loss of virulence (phenotype 2). The first year served as a proof of concept and inspired further work [6, 7]. B) To pursue the project, specific courses were selected and adapted alongside mandatory ones both in the bioinformatics and biology in the master’s programs. During the first semester of the M1 (S1-M1), the students are trained in general concepts in bioinformatics (programming... ) and biology (virology, evolution... ). Then during the second semester of the M1 (S2-M1), the students work in mixed groups on the BILL research project. After the project, they have to do their Master 1 internship. During the second year of the master program (M2-S1), students develop their analytical skills (functional and advanced bioinformatics) to interpret results and prepare publications. C) The BILL project was sustained through shared teaching courses, institutional funding, computational resources, and experimental contributions.
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