Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines elements of the
areas of biological sciences and computing, which has become fundamental in health
science research. Bioinformatics is based on the development and application of
computational tools to extract knowledge from biological data and to solve real-world
problems in human health, which contributes to the diagnosis and control of infectious
diseases. Much of the biological information is obtained through comparison of
genomic sequences. Currently Next-Generation-Sequencing provides a wide genetic
database which overcomes Sanger sequencing. Nitrogenous bases are identified by
signals emitted for each fragment of DNA strand that it occurs through large massive
reactions. In this context, sequence alignment methods are relevant. Evolutionary and
functional patterns could be extracted from multiple sequence alignments, which could
point to molecular markers, receptors, or targets that could be important to develop
control measures of several diseases. Bioinformatics could also be applied in proteomic
and transcriptomic studies, increasing the knowledge at the molecular biology level of
protozoa and transmission vectors. Therefore, Bioinformatics tools are relevant to
gather information about Neglected Tropical Diseases, and so, novel control methods
could be tested and developed.
Keywords: Bioinformatics, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Next-Generation-
Sequencing, Sequence Analysis.
