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NIAID awards contract for pathogen genomics database

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The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded an expected $23.4 million contract toward the continued development and maintenance of a pathogen genomics database, according to a press release.

“This database has expedited research in many ways,” Jessica C. Kissinger, PhD, director of the Institute of Bioinformatics at the University of Georgia, said in the release. “Vaccine scientists frequently want to examine how proteins have changed over time, to identify those with signatures indicating that they provoke the human immune system. Those studying a specific antigen may wish to examine its structure and diversity, in order to prioritize those regions that might be most promising and relatively unlikely to develop resistance.”

The Eukaryotic Pathogen Genomics Database (EuPathDB) was first launched by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Georgia in 1999. One of four pathogen bioinformatics Resource Centers supported by the NIH, it compiles genomic data on disease-causing eukaryotes and makes it easily accessible for researchers worldwide.

“It is truly inspiring to see how access to these online resources has helped to invigorate and engage scientific colleagues around the world,” David S. Roos, PhD, the E. Otis Kendall Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, said in the press release. “EuPathDB occupies a large global footprint.”

The database includes roughly nine terabytes of information, and receives more than 6.5 million hits monthly. It currently holds more than 3,000 genomes from more than 300 eukaryotic species.

This is the third 5-year contract the project has received from the NIH, worth $4.3 million yearly. It also has received support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust.

“The sophistication of the questions people can ask continues to increase,” Roos said. “Our job is to ensure that this resource remains dynamic, taking into account how people interact with the data in ways that can have a real impact on global health.”