Folklore MCP

API for gene identity resolution, variant interpretation, and gene-disease literature search

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About Folklore MCP

Folklore MCP by Helena Bioinformatics is an advanced AI-integrated API service tailored for genomic researchers and bioinformaticians. It offers a seamless way to resolve public gene identities, scrutinize source-qualified gene profiles, interpret various forms of nuclear germline variants, and explore extensive gene-disease associations alongside linked scientific literature. Designed with ease of integration in mind, Folklore MCP communicates through Streamable HTTP endpoints without necessitating user accounts or API keys, simplifying its adoption for AI clients and research platforms.

The service supports queries for nuclear germline single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertions or deletions (indels) under 50 base pairs, using coordinate data and standard variant nomenclature forms like HGVS, SPDI, and rsID. Key features include a suite of specialized tools that enable users to conduct variant evidence searches, retrieve detailed gene profiles, access curated gene-disease associations, and perform live literature queries related to specific genes or variants. Folklore MCP maintains rigorous data provenance and highlights limitations, emphasizing that information should support research rather than serve as direct clinical diagnostic advice.

Use Cases

A genomic researcher uses Folklore MCP to resolve ambiguous gene aliases in newly sequenced datasets to ensure consistency in downstream variant analysis workflows.
A bioinformatician integrates Folklore MCP into their AI-powered variant interpretation pipeline to automatically classify germline variants based on curated evidence and published literature.
A rare disease specialist queries Folklore MCP to identify gene-disease associations relevant to phenotypic presentations observed in patient cohorts, facilitating candidate gene prioritization.
A clinical research team employs the API to access up-to-date literature on specific variants implicated in inherited conditions, supporting hypothesis generation for functional studies.
An AI client developer implements Folklore MCP’s Streamable HTTP endpoint to enrich chatbot responses with authoritative gene profile summaries and variant evidence in real-time.
A computational biologist uses the tool to cross-reference variant data with official support information and track updates in public gene-disease validity databases for research accuracy.

Key Features

Resolve public gene symbols, aliases, and stable identifiers
Interpret supported nuclear germline variants via multiple nomenclature forms
Search curated gene-disease associations and variant evidence
Access scientific literature linked to genes and variants with live captures
Integrate seamlessly with AI clients using a simple Streamable HTTP endpoint

Pricing

Folklore MCP is offered completely free of charge, with no subscription or user account required. The API is publicly accessible via a Streamable HTTP endpoint, allowing unlimited programmatic queries without any API keys or rate limiting specified. This open availability aims to support widespread use by researchers, bioinformaticians, and AI developers without cost barriers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

+ Completely free to use with no account or API key requirement, enabling easy and open access.
+ Supports multiple standardized variant nomenclatures and coordinate systems for flexible queries.
+ Provides source-qualified gene profiles and clearly indicates data provenance and limitations.
+ Seamless integration with AI clients via Streamable HTTP endpoints aids automation and live querying.
+ Comprehensive toolset covers variant evidence, gene-disease associations, and related scientific literature.

Cons

- Limited to nuclear germline SNVs and small indels under 50 base pairs, excluding larger structural variants or somatic mutations.
- Does not substitute for clinical diagnosis; users must carefully interpret evidence and consider limitations.
- Live literature captures exclude abstracts, which may require additional manual review for quick summary.
- API documentation may require technical background in genomics for effective utilization by non-specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it necessary to create an account or obtain an API key to use Folklore MCP?

No, Folklore MCP does not require users to create an account or obtain an API keys. The API is publicly accessible via a Streamable HTTP endpoint, making integration straightforward and open to all users.

What types of genetic variants does Folklore MCP support?

Folklore MCP supports nuclear germline single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and simple insertions or deletions (indels) smaller than 50 base pairs. Queries can be made using genomic coordinates or recognized variant nomenclature standards like HGVS, SPDI, and rsID.

Can Folklore MCP be used for clinical diagnosis of genetic variants?

Folklore MCP provides curated gene and variant evidence along with literature references but does not replace clinical diagnosis. Users should interpret the data carefully and consult clinical geneticists for diagnostic decisions.

How can I integrate Folklore MCP with my AI client application?

Integration is accomplished by configuring your AI client to connect with the Folklore MCP Streamable HTTP endpoint at https://api.helena.bio/folklore/v1/mcp. The API supports programmatic variant and gene queries without authentication hurdles.

Does Folklore MCP provide real-time access to scientific literature?

Yes, Folklore MCP offers live captures of scientific literature related to genes and variants. However, literature summaries exclude abstracts and are separate from immutable profile data sections.