In this paper, the current status of the Molecular Probe Data Base (ht
tp://www.biotech.ist.unige.it/interlab/ mpdb.html) is briefly presente
d together with a short analysis of its activity during 1997. This has
been performed by statistically evaluating the 'logs' of the Internet
servers that are used for its distribution with reference to the geog
raphical origin of the requests, the words that were utilized to carry
out of the searches and the oligonucleotides that were retrieved, Pla
nned enhancements of this database are also described. They include a
revision of its data structure and, even more relevant, of its data ma
nagement procedures.