LocusTrack: Integrated visualization of GWAS results and genomic annotation.
BACKGROUND
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are an important tool for the mapping of complex traits and diseases. Visual inspection of genomic annotations may be used to generate insights into the biological mechanisms underlying GWAS-identified loci.


RESULTS
We developed LocusTrack, a web-based application that annotates and creates plots of regional GWAS results and incorporates user-specified tracks that display annotations such as linkage disequilibrium (LD), phylogenetic conservation, chromatin state, and other genomic and regulatory elements. Currently, LocusTrack can integrate annotation tracks from the UCSC genome-browser as well as from any tracks provided by the user.


CONCLUSIONS
LocusTrack is an easy-to-use application and can be accessed at the following URL: http://gump.qimr.edu.au/general/gabrieC/LocusTrack/. Users can upload and manage GWAS results and select from and/or provide annotation tracks using simple and intuitive menus. LocusTrack scripts and associated data can be downloaded from the website and run locally.
Statistical Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia ; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland Australia.
Gabriel
G
Cuellar-Partida
Genetic Epidemiology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
Miguel E
ME
Renteria
Statistical Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
Stuart
S
MacGregor