Using Web Services Technology for Integration in Bioinformatics

Abstract

In bioinformatics, there is a need for integration in the form of enabling programmatic remote access for databases and analysis tools. Such service integration makes it possible to build powerful workflows and analysis platforms and also reduces local maintenance burdens.

Suitability of Web services technology for such integration is investigated from the point of view of a service provider, by implementing a Web service interface for a sequence alignment database. Special attention is paid to interoperability, managing state and large binary files.

Web services are found to be a potential technology, providing good interoperability and loose coupling. Requirements of state management and dealing with large binary data are addressed, though not without problems. Due to abundance of various specifications, of which many are still developing, Web services is found to support many features, although capable tools are needed for taking advantage of them.

In conclusions, the importance of understanding the challenges of integration is emphasized, in addition to using a suitable technology and capable tools.