The phytophthora genome initiative database: informatics and analysis for distributed pathogenomic research

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Plant Pathology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Phytophthora species are destructive plant pathogens.
• Limited genomic data was previously available for this genus.
• Understanding infection and resistance mechanisms is crucial for disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a collaborative initiative for studying the genome and evolution of Phytophthora.
• To create a centralized data repository and informatics support for genomic research.
• To facilitate the understanding of pathogen infection and resistance mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Distributed collaboration involving multiple investigators.
• Generation of EST and BAC libraries for Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora sojae.
• Data sequencing, analysis, and curation at NCGR using a dedicated pipeline.
• Development of a web-accessible database and data retrieval tools.

Main Results:

• Established the Phytophthora Genome Initiative (PGI) as a collaborative research platform.
• Developed an informatics pipeline for raw sequencing data analysis (vector removal, similarity searching).
• Created a centralized, web-accessible database for Phytophthora genomic data.

Conclusions:

• The PGI provides a unique resource for collaborative study of Phytophthora genomics.
• The initiative facilitates insights into pathogen evolution and mechanisms of infection.
• Findings are expected to contribute to developing better strategies for controlling these plant pathogens.