---
name: nextflow-development
description: Run nf-core bioinformatics pipelines (rnaseq, sarek, atacseq) on sequencing data. Use when analyzing RNA-seq, WGS/WES, or ATAC-seq data—either local FASTQs or…
---

# nextflow-development

Run nf-core bioinformatics pipelines (rnaseq, sarek, atacseq) on sequencing data. Use when analyzing RNA-seq, WGS/WES, or ATAC-seq data—either local FASTQs or…

# nextflow-developmentby anthropic
Run nf-core bioinformatics pipelines (rnaseq, sarek, atacseq) on sequencing data. Use when analyzing RNA-seq, WGS/WES, or ATAC-seq data—either local FASTQs or…

`npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/life-sciences --skill nextflow-development`Download ZIPGitHub

## nf-core Pipeline Deployment

Run nf-core bioinformatics pipelines on local or public sequencing data.

Target users: Bench scientists and researchers without specialized bioinformatics training who need to run large-scale omics analyses—differential expression, variant calling, or chromatin accessibility analysis.

## Workflow Checklist

```
`- [ ] Step 0: Acquire data (if from GEO/SRA)
- [ ] Step 1: Environment check (MUST pass)
- [ ] Step 2: Select pipeline (confirm with user)
- [ ] Step 3: Run test profile (MUST pass)
- [ ] Step 4: Create samplesheet
- [ ] Step 5: Configure & run (confirm genome with user)
- [ ] Step 6: Verify outputs
`
```

## Step 0: Acquire Data (GEO/SRA Only)

Skip this step if user has local FASTQ files.

For public datasets, fetch from GEO/SRA first. See references/geo-sra-acquisition.md for the full workflow.

Quick start:

```
`# 1. Get study info
python scripts/sra_geo_fetch.py info GSE110004

# 2. Download (interactive mode)
python scripts/sra_geo_fetch.py download GSE110004 -o ./fastq -i

# 3. Generate samplesheet
python scripts/sra_geo_fetch.py samplesheet GSE110004 --fastq-dir ./fastq -o samplesheet.csv
`
```

DECISION POINT: After fetching study info, confirm with user:

* Which sample subset to download (if multiple data types)

* Suggested genome and pipeline

Then continue to Step 1.

## Step 1: Environment Check

Run first. Pipeline will fail without passing environment.

```
`python scripts/check_environment.py
`
```

All critical checks must pass. If any fail, provide fix instructions:

### Docker issues

ProblemFixNot installedInstall from https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/Permission denied`sudo usermod -aG docker $USER` then re-loginDaemon not running`sudo systemctl start docker`

### Nextflow issues

ProblemFixNot installed`curl -s https://get.nextflow.io | bash && mv nextflow ~/bin/`Version < 23.04`nextflow self-update`

### Java issues

ProblemFixNot installed / < 11`sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk`
Do not proceed until all checks pass. For HPC/Singularity, see references/troubleshooting.md.

## Step 2: Select Pipeline

DECISION POINT: Confirm with user before proceeding.

Data TypePipelineVersionGoalRNA-seq`rnaseq`3.22.2Gene expressionWGS/WES`sarek`3.7.1Variant callingATAC-seq`atacseq`2.1.2Chromatin accessibility
Auto-detect from data:

```
`python scripts/detect_data_type.py /path/to/data
`
```

For pipeline-specific details:

* references/pipelines/rnaseq.md

* references/pipelines/sarek.md

* references/pipelines/atacseq.md

## Step 3: Run Test Profile

Validates environment with small data. MUST pass before real data.

```
`nextflow run nf-core/<pipeline> -r <version> -profile test,docker --outdir test_output
`
```

PipelineCommandrnaseq`nextflow run nf-core/rnaseq -r 3.22.2 -profile test,docker --outdir test_rnaseq`sarek`nextflow run nf-core/sarek -r 3.7.1 -profile test,docker --outdir test_sarek`atacseq`nextflow run nf-core/atacseq -r 2.1.2 -profile test,docker --outdir test_atacseq`
Verify:

```
`ls test_output/multiqc/multiqc_report.html
grep "Pipeline completed successfully" .nextflow.log
`
```

If test fails, see references/troubleshooting.md.

## Step 4: Create Samplesheet

### Generate automatically

```
`python scripts/generate_samplesheet.py /path/to/data <pipeline> -o samplesheet.csv
`
```

The script:

* Discovers FASTQ/BAM/CRAM files

* Pairs R1/R2 reads

* Infers sample metadata

* Validates before writing

For sarek: Script prompts for tumor/normal status if not auto-detected.

### Validate existing samplesheet

```
`python scripts/generate_samplesheet.py --validate samplesheet.csv <pipeline>
`
```

### Samplesheet formats

rnaseq:

```
`sample,fastq_1,fastq_2,strandedness
SAMPLE1,/abs/path/R1.fq.gz,/abs/path/R2.fq.gz,auto
`
```

sarek:

```
`patient,sample,lane,fastq_1,fastq_2,status
patient1,tumor,L001,/abs/path/tumor_R1.fq.gz,/abs/path/tumor_R2.fq.gz,1
patient1,normal,L001,/abs/path/normal_R1.fq.gz,/abs/path/normal_R2.fq.gz,0
`
```

atacseq:

```
`sample,fastq_1,fastq_2,replicate
CONTROL,/abs/path/ctrl_R1.fq.gz,/abs/path/ctrl_R2.fq.gz,1
`
```

## Step 5: Configure & Run

### 5a. Check genome availability

```
`python scripts/manage_genomes.py check <genome>
# If not installed:
python scripts/manage_genomes.py download <genome>
`
```

Common genomes: GRCh38 (human), GRCh37 (legacy), GRCm39 (mouse), R64-1-1 (yeast), BDGP6 (fly)

### 5b. Decision points

DECISION POINT: Confirm with user:

* Genome: Which reference to use

* Pipeline-specific options:

* rnaseq: aligner (star_salmon recommended, hisat2 for low memory)

* sarek: tools (haplotypecaller for germline, mutect2 for somatic)

* atacseq: read_length (50, 75, 100, or 150)

### 5c. Run pipeline

```
`nextflow run nf-core/<pipeline> \
-r <version> \
-profile docker \
--input samplesheet.csv \
--outdir results \
--genome <genome> \
-resume
`
```

Key flags:

* `-r`: Pin version

* `-profile docker`: Use Docker (or `singularity` for HPC)

* `--genome`: iGenomes key

* `-resume`: Continue from checkpoint

Resource limits (if needed):

```
`--max_cpus 8 --max_memory '32.GB' --max_time '24.h'
`
```

## Step 6: Verify Outputs

### Check completion

```
`ls results/multiqc/multiqc_report.html
grep "Pipeline completed successfully" .nextflow.log
`
```

### Key outputs by pipeline

rnaseq:

* `results/star_salmon/salmon.merged.gene_counts.tsv` - Gene counts

* `results/star_salmon/salmon.merged.gene_tpm.tsv` - TPM values

sarek:

* `results/variant_calling/*/` - VCF files

* `results/preprocessing/recalibrated/` - BAM files

atacseq:

* `results/macs2/narrowPeak/` - Peak calls

* `results/bwa/mergedLibrary/bigwig/` - Coverage tracks

## Quick Reference

For common exit codes and fixes, see references/troubleshooting.md.

### Resume failed run

```
`nextflow run nf-core/<pipeline> -resume
`
```

## References

* references/geo-sra-acquisition.md - Downloading public GEO/SRA data

* references/troubleshooting.md - Common issues and fixes

* references/installation.md - Environment setup

* references/pipelines/rnaseq.md - RNA-seq pipeline details

* references/pipelines/sarek.md - Variant calling details

* references/pipelines/atacseq.md - ATAC-seq details

## Disclaimer

This skill is provided as a prototype example demonstrating how to integrate nf-core bioinformatics pipelines into Claude Code for automated analysis workflows. The current implementation supports three pipelines (rnaseq, sarek, and atacseq), serving as a foundation that enables the community to expand support to the full set of nf-core pipelines.

It is intended for educational and research purposes and should not be considered production-ready without appropriate validation for your specific use case. Users are responsible for ensuring their computing environment meets pipeline requirements and for verifying analysis results.

Anthropic does not guarantee the accuracy of bioinformatics outputs, and users should follow standard practices for validating computational analyses. This integration is not officially endorsed by or affiliated with the nf-core community.

## Attribution

When publishing results, cite the appropriate pipeline. Citations are available in each nf-core repository's CITATIONS.md file (e.g., https://github.com/nf-core/rnaseq/blob/3.22.2/CITATIONS.md).

## Licenses

* nf-core pipelines: MIT License (https://nf-co.re/about)

* Nextflow: Apache License, Version 2.0 (https://www.nextflow.io/about-us.html)

* NCBI SRA Toolkit: Public Domain (https://github.com/ncbi/sra-tools/blob/master/LICENSE)

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**Source**: https://github.com/anthropics/life-sciences/tree/HEAD/nextflow-development
**Author**: anthropic
**Discovered via**: mcpservers.org