PlasmoDB: An integrative database of the Plasmodium falciparum genome. Tools for accessing and analyzing finished and unfinished sequence data

The Plasmodium falciparum Genome Database (http:// PlasmoDB.org) integrates sequence information, automated analyses and annotation data emerging from the P.falciparum genome sequencing consortium. To date, raw sequence cover age is available for >90% of the genome, and two chromosomes have been fini shed and annotated. Data in PlasmoDB are organized by chromosome (1-14), an d can be accessed using a variety of tools for graphical and text-based bro wsing or downloaded in various file formats. The GUS (Genomics Unified Sche ma) implementation of PlasmoDB provides a multi-species genomic relational database, incorporating data from human and mouse, as well as P.falciparum. The relational schema uses a highly structured format to accommodate diver se data sets related to genomic sequence and gene expression. Tools have be en designed to facilitate complex biological queries, including many that a re specific to Plasmodium parasites and malaria as a disease. Additional pr ojects seek to integrate genomic information with the rich data sets now be coming available for RNA transcription, protein expression, metabolic pathw ays, genetic and physical mapping, antigenic and population diversity, and phylogenetic relationships with other apicomplexan parasites. The overall g oal of PlasmoDB is to facilitate Internet- and CD-ROM-based access to both finished and unfinished sequence information by the global malaria research community.