Head of Research Group: Prof. Sándor PONGOR
Members of the Group: Dr. János JUHÁSZ, Dr. Balázs LIGETI
Contact: pongor.sandor@itk.ppke.hu
Our primary research area is the general theory of bioinformatics data, grounded in sys-tems theory and network science. Historically, our core data types include sequences, 3D molecular structures, biological networks, genomes, and scientific literature. However, we continuously aim to understand the underlying principles of emerging data types and databases. Building upon this theoretical foundation, our key priority is curriculum devel-opment for BSc, MSc, and PhD programs, structured around three main pillars:
- Fundamentals of bioinformatics;
- Visualization and numerical representation of scientific data;
- Data interpretation and communication, including scientific writing and presenta-tion skills.
Another research direction addresses the increasing complexity and opacity of bioinfor-matics workflows, which pose significant challenges to establishing universal scientific and ethical standards. The rise of artificial intelligence sheds new light on these fields, a shift to which our curriculum development efforts are actively adapting. Additionally, our ongoing projects focus primarily on the analysis of host-associated microbiomes; we work on developing methodologies to uncover their composition and interconnected networks.
To generate new insights, we must integrate diverse layers of biological data. Using bioinformatics tools to cluster within layers, as well as to map across them, is fundamental for organizing and storing structured scientific information in databases.
Future research directions, collaboration opportunities: curriculum development in Bioinformatics (BSc, MSc, and PhD level). Interpretation of novel datatypes, database design.
Key publications
- Juhász, J., Ligeti, B., Gajdács, M., Makra, N., Ostorházi, E., Farkas, F. B., ... & Szabó, D. (2021). Colonization dynamics of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae are dictated by microbiota-cluster group behavior over individual antibiotic susceptibility: a metataxonomic analysis. ANTIBIOTICS, 10(3), 268.
- Marini, B., Kertész-Farkas, A., Ali, H., Lucic, B., Lisek, K., Manganaro, L., Pongor, S., Luzzati, R., Recchia, A., Mavilio, F., Giacca, M. and Lusic, M. (2015). Nuclear architecture dictates HIV-1 integration site selection. NATURE
- Juhász, J., Kertész-Farkas, A., Szabó, D and Pongor, S. (2014). Emergence of collective territorial defense in bacterial communities: Horizontal gene transfer can stabilize microbiomes. PLOS ONE
