PlasmoDB: The Plasmodium Genome Resource

Abstract

The Plasmodium Genome Database was introduced in 2000, in response to emerging needs of the malaria research community for access to genomic-scale datasets. In its earliest manifestations, prior to completion of the Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence and curated annotation, PlasmoDB focused on automated analysis of available sequence data, enabling researchers to identify draft sequences for specific genes of interest, even in the absence of the surrounding genomic context. The availability of an effectively complete P. falciparum genome sequence has stimulated a wide range of functional genomics research, and PlasmoDB has endeavored to keep pace with these studies, providing access to the underlying datasets, and allowing a variety of integrative queries, e.g., finding all genes for which both transcript and proteomics data suggest expression in gametocyte stage parasites. PlasmoDB will continue to integrate new datasets as they emerge, developing tools of interest to the malaria researcher and facilitating the discovery of new diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines. PlasmoDB provides the user with a variety of analysis tools for examining and extracting information from the genome and predicted proteome, using BLAST, electronic PCRs, defined motif searches, and tools for the analysis of microarray and proteomics data. Gene Pages provide an encyclopedic view of the Plasmodium genome, where it is possible to look up all information about a specified gene. Plasmodium parasites may be gleaned by browsing the genome in Sequence View mode, and information on specific genes may be obtained from the various Gene Pages.