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Published on: January 20, 2017
OpenFluDB, a database for human and animal influenza virus
Robin Liechti1, Anne Gleizes, Dmitry Kuznetsov
1Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Vital-IT, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Summary
The OpenFlu database (OpenFluDB) centralizes influenza virus genomic, protein, and epidemiological data from over 27,000 isolates. This resource aids in tracking influenza evolution and antiviral resistance, supporting global health efforts.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Bioinformatics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Influenza remains a significant global health threat, causing substantial mortality annually.
- Emerging highly pathogenic strains (H5N1, H7N7) and pandemics (H1N1) necessitate collaborative data sharing on viral evolution.
- The OpenFlu database (OpenFluDB) was established to facilitate this collaborative effort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the OpenFlu database (OpenFluDB) as a comprehensive resource for influenza research.
- To detail the data content, analytical tools, and data submission/export mechanisms of OpenFluDB.
- To highlight the utility of OpenFluDB in managing and analyzing influenza data, particularly during outbreaks and vaccine development.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of genomic and protein sequences, alongside epidemiological data for over 27,000 influenza isolates.
- Annotation of isolates with virus type, host, geographical location, and antiviral resistance.
- Computation of pathogenicity and human adaptation propensity from protein sequences.
- Integration of data from direct user submissions and automatic import from public repositories.
- Provision of analysis tools such as multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- OpenFluDB contains extensive data on over 27,000 influenza virus isolates.
- The database includes annotations on host, location, and antiviral resistance, with computed pathogenicity metrics.
- Analysis tools enable efficient data mining and exploration of viral evolution.
- The database has been instrumental in distributing sequences during outbreaks and supporting vaccine selection.
Conclusions:
- OpenFluDB serves as a vital, centralized resource for influenza surveillance and research.
- The database facilitates rapid data sharing and analysis, crucial for understanding and combating influenza.
- OpenFluDB supports collaborative efforts in tracking viral evolution, pathogenicity, and antiviral resistance globally.
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