title: VectorBase: improvements to a bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vector genomics.
abstract: VectorBase (http://www.vectorbase.org) is a NIAID-supported bioinformatics resource for invertebrate vectors of human pathogens. It hosts data for nine genomes: mosquitoes (three Anopheles gambiae genomes, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus), tick (Ixodes scapularis), body louse (Pediculus humanus), kissing bug (Rhodnius prolixus) and tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans). Hosted data range from genomic features and expression data to population genetics and ontologies. We describe improvements and integration of new data that expand our taxonomic coverage. Releases are bi-monthly and include the delivery of preliminary data for emerging genomes. Frequent updates of the genome browser provide VectorBase users with increasing options for visualizing their own high-throughput data. One major development is a new population biology resource for storing genomic variations, insecticide resistance data and their associated metadata. It takes advantage of improved ontologies and controlled vocabularies. Combined, these new features ensure timely release of multiple types of data in the public domain while helping overcome the bottlenecks of bioinformatics and annotation by engaging with our user community.
authors.affiliation: European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK. kmegy@ebi.ac.uk
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Megy
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Emrich
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dialynas
authors.forename: Daniel S T
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Gautier
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koscielny
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Maccallum
authors.forename: Seth N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Topalis
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000235:genetics; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D014644:Genetic Variation; D049750:Genome, Insect; D023281:Genomics; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000235:genetics*; D007305:Insecticide Resistance; D018884:Ixodes / Q000235:genetics; D010374:Pediculus / Q000235:genetics; D012239:Rhodnius / Q000235:genetics; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000235:genetics