dbSNP MCP Plugin

What is dbSNP MCP Plugin?

The dbSNP MCP Plugin is an MCP server that retrieves genetic variant information from NCBI’s dbSNP database directly in a development environment. It is intended for developers who need to query SNP details, search for variants, and obtain clinical significance data programmatically.

How to use dbSNP MCP Plugin?

Install the required dependencies with pip install mcp requests, then install the server using mcp install server.py. Optionally, add an NCBI API key for higher rate limits via mcp install server.py -v NCBI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here. Use the provided functions: get_snp_by_rs, search_snps, and get_snp_clinical_significance.

Key features of dbSNP MCP Plugin

• Retrieve detailed information about a SNP by its rs ID
• Search for SNPs using gene names, phenotypes, or other terms
• Obtain clinical significance data for specific variants

Use cases of dbSNP MCP Plugin

• Look up details of a known SNP (e.g., rs6311) for analysis
• Find all SNPs associated with a gene like BRCA1
• Check the clinical significance of a variant such as rs397507444

FAQ from dbSNP MCP Plugin

What are the prerequisites for using dbSNP MCP Plugin?

You need Python 3.7+ and the MCP CLI tool. The required Python packages are mcp and requests.

How can I increase the request rate limit?

NCBI imposes a default limit of 3 requests per second. To raise it to 10 requests per second, obtain an NCBI API key from your NCBI account settings and pass it when installing the server.

Where does the data come from?

All variant information is fetched live from NCBI’s dbSNP database through its public API.

What should I do if I encounter errors?

Check your internet connection, verify that the rs ID format is correct, ensure your NCBI API key (if used) is valid, and inspect the error messages for specific API response details.