HTT-DB: new features and updates.

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Bioinformatics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Horizontal Transfer (HT) is common in prokaryotes but less studied in eukaryotes.
• Recent discoveries highlight increased HT events in eukaryotes, necessitating a centralized data repository.
• Existing databases primarily focus on prokaryotic HT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update and expand the Horizontal Transposon Transfer DataBase for eukaryotic HT.
• To incorporate virus-host exchange (HVT) into the database.
• To provide a user-friendly web server for detecting HT events.

Main Methods:

• Expansion of the Horizontal Transposon Transfer DataBase to include HVT.
• Implementation of an online version of the Vertical and Horizontal Inheritance Consistence Analysis (VHICA) R package.
• Development of a web server for HT detection and data retrieval.

Main Results:

• The database now includes HVT events alongside transposon HT in eukaryotes.
• An accessible web server for HT detection using VHICA is now available.
• Researchers can now easily search, analyze, and visualize HT data.

Conclusions:

• The updated database and web server provide a crucial resource for studying eukaryotic HT and HVT.
• The VHICA tool lowers the computational barrier for HT detection, enabling broader research.
• These advancements will facilitate the discovery of new HT events across diverse taxa.