PhaBOX: a web server for identifying and characterizing phage contigs in metagenomic data

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Bacteriophages (phages) play crucial roles in regulating microbiome structure and function.
• The integration of phage analysis into microbiome research is hindered by a lack of accessible, comprehensive software tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an integrated, user-friendly web server for comprehensive phage analysis in metagenomic data.
• To facilitate the inclusion of phage analysis in microbiome studies for researchers of all technical backgrounds.

Main Methods:

• Development of the PhaBOX web server.
• Implementation of algorithms for phage contig identification from metagenomic assemblies.
• Integration of modules for phage lifestyle prediction, taxonomic classification, and host prediction.
• Inclusion of visualization features for prediction transparency.

Main Results:

• PhaBOX enables comprehensive analysis of phage contigs within metagenomic data.
• The server supports integrated phage identification, lifestyle prediction, taxonomic classification, and host prediction.
• PhaBOX features a user-friendly graphical interface with visualizations for prediction insights.
• The tool is accessible to both bioinformatics specialists and non-specialist users.

Conclusions:

• PhaBOX provides an essential, integrated solution for phage analysis in microbiome research.
• The user-friendly design democratizes phage analysis, enabling broader adoption in the scientific community.
• This tool will advance our understanding of phage-microbiome interactions.