VectorBase
Encyclopedia
VectorBase is one of the five Bioinformatics Resource Centers
(BRC) funded by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID a component of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
. VectorBase is focused on invertebrate vectors of human pathogens working with the sequencing centers and the research community to curate vector genomes (mainly genome annotation
).
Bioinformatics Resource Centers
The Bioinformatics Resource Centers are a group of five Internet-based research centers established in 2004 and funded by NIAID The BRCs were formed in response to the threats posed by emerging and re-emerging pathogens, particularly CDC Category A, B, and C pathogens, and their potential use in...
(BRC) funded by the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIAID a component of the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH), which is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
. VectorBase is focused on invertebrate vectors of human pathogens working with the sequencing centers and the research community to curate vector genomes (mainly genome annotation
Genome project
Genome projects are scientific endeavours that ultimately aim to determine the complete genome sequence of an organism and to annotate protein-coding genes and other important genome-encoded features...
).
Genomes covered in the VectorBase database
- Aedes aegyptiAedes aegyptiThe yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax...
- Anopheles gambiaeAnopheles gambiaeAnopheles gambiae is a complex of at least seven morphologically distinguishable species of mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles. This complex was recognised in the 1960s and includes the most important vectors of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and the most efficient malaria vectors known.This species...
- Culex quinquefasciatusCulex quinquefasciatusCulex quinquefasciatus is the vector oflymphatic filariasis caused by the nematode Wuchereria bancroftiin the tropics and sub tropics.-Primary vector of Lymphatic Filariasis in India:...
- Ixodes scapularisIxodes scapularisIxodes scapularis is commonly known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick , and in some parts of the USA as the bear tick. It is a hard-bodied tick of the eastern and northern Midwestern United States...
- Pediculus humanusPediculus humanusPediculus humanus is a species of lice that infects humans. It comprises two subspecies:*Pediculus humanus humanus Linnaeus, 1758 – the body louse*Pediculus humanus capitis De Geer, 1767 – the head louse...
- Rhodnius prolixusRhodnius prolixusRhodnius prolixus is the second most important triatomine vector of the Chagas parasite due to its efficient adaptation to the human domicile in northern South America, where sylvatic populations also exist, and in Central America where it is exclusively domestic...
Tools available through the VectorBase site
- Genome browser
- Community annotation system
- Microarray and gene expression repository
- Controlled vocabularies for anatomy and insecticide resistance
- BLAST searches for all covered genomes
External links
- Bioinformatics Resource Centers The NIAID page describing the goals and activities of the BRCs
- Pathogen Portal Hub site for the five BRCs; provides summary information
- Aedes aegypti genome browser at VectorBase
- Anopheles gambiae genome browser at VectorBase
- Culex quinquefasciatus genome browser at VectorBase
- Ixodes scapularis genome browser at VectorBase
- Pediculus humanus genome browser at VectorBase
- Rhodnius prolixus genome browser at VectorBase