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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
PhiGO, a phage ontology associated with the ACLAME database
Ariane Toussaint1, Gipsi Lima-Mendez, Raphaël Leplae
1Service de Conformation de Macromolécules Biologiques et de Bioinformatique, Université Libre de Bruxelles, ULB, Bvd du Triomphe, Campus Plaine - CP 263, B1050 Bruxelles, Belgium. ariane@scmbb.ulb.ac.be
A new phage ontology, PhiGO, offers improved gene product annotation for bacteriophage and prophage sequences. This tool enhances the informational content of genomic and metagenomic data for these viruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- The increasing availability of complete nucleotide sequences for bacteriophages and archaeviruses necessitates advanced annotation tools.
- Current annotation methods may lack the specificity required for comprehensive gene product information in viral genomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce PhiGO, the first phage ontology, designed to enhance the annotation of gene products in phage and prophage sequences.
- To provide a standardized framework for describing phage-related gene functions.
Main Methods:
- Development of PhiGO based on the established Gene Ontology (GO) schema.
- Integration of phage-specific terminology and structure within the GO framework.
Main Results:
- PhiGO provides a structured vocabulary for annotating phage and prophage gene products.
- The ontology facilitates more informative and consistent data representation across different databases.
Conclusions:
- PhiGO represents a significant advancement in the annotation of viral genomic data.
- This ontology will aid researchers in better understanding phage and prophage gene functions and their roles in various ecosystems.
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