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Published on: August 15, 2019
Xanthusbase: adapting wikipedia principles to a model organism database
Bradley I Arshinoff1, Garret Suen, Eric M Just
1Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|November 9, 2006
Summary
xanthusBase is a new model organism database for Myxococcus xanthus, a bacterium studied for prokaryotic multicellularity and biofilms. It uses open-source software and a Wikipedia-style model for easy navigation and community genome annotation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- Myxococcus xanthus is a key model organism for studying prokaryotic multicellularity.
- Understanding multicellularity is crucial for research on biofilms in basic and applied microbiology.
- Existing model organism databases (MODs) can be enhanced for specific organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce xanthusBase, the official model organism database for Myxococcus xanthus.
- To create a user-friendly and highly navigable resource for M. xanthus research.
- To leverage community contributions for genome annotation.
Main Methods:
- Development of xanthusBase utilizing open-source software.
- Integration of established platforms like Generic Model Organism Database (GMOD) and MediaWiki.
- Implementation of a Wikipedia-style, interactive curation model.
Main Results:
- xanthusBase provides a dedicated, official database for Myxococcus xanthus.
- The database is designed for high utility and ease of navigation.
- A community-driven annotation model is established, enabling researcher contributions.
Conclusions:
- xanthusBase enhances the study of Myxococcus xanthus and prokaryotic multicellularity.
- The database facilitates collaborative genome annotation through its interactive design.
- This resource supports ongoing research in microbiology and biofilm formation.
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