VIDA: a virus database system for the organization of animal virus genome open reading frames

VIDA is a new virus database that organizes open reading frames (ORFs) from partial and complete genomic sequences from animal viruses. Currently VIDA includes all sequences from GenBank for Herpesviridae, Coronaviridae and A rteriviridae. The ORFs are organized into homologous protein families, whic h are identified on the basis of sequence similarity relationships, Conserv ed sequence regions of potential functional importance are identified and c an be retrieved as sequence alignments. We use a controlled taxonomical and functional classification for all the proteins and protein families in the database. When available, protein structures that are related to the famil ies have also been included. The database is available for online search an d sequence information retrieval at http://www.biochem.ucl.ac.uk/bsm/virus- database/ VIDA.html.