ViPR: an open bioinformatics database and analysis resource for virology research

Pickett, Brett E.; Sadat, Eva L.; Zhang, Yun; Noronha, Jyothi M.; Squires, R. Burke; Hunt, Victoria; Liu, Mengya; Kumar, Sanjeev; Zaremba, Sam; Gu, Zhiping; Zhou, Liwei; Larson, Christopher N.; Dietrich, Jonathan; Klem, Edward B.; Scheuermann, Richard H.

The Virus Pathogen Database and Analysis Resource (ViPR, www.ViPRbrc.org) is an integrated repository of data and analysis tools for multiple virus families, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRC) program. The uniqueness of ViPR lies in (i) integrating data from many sources; (ii) encouraging the analysis of the extensive data contained within the system; (iii) combining the available tools to quickly perform complex analytical workflows; (iv) facilitating rapid hypothesis generation using bioinformatics methods for subsequent experimental testing; and (v) allowing data storage and sharing with collaborators in personal workbenches. By taking advantage of the powerful suite of resources provided within the ViPR BRC, virology researchers can streamline and expedite experimental discovery, for the ultimate goal of developing improved diagnostics, prophylactics and/or therapeutics for pathogenic viruses. The availability of such a resource can not only decrease the time required for scientific discovery at the 'bench', but also aid in translating those findings to the development of viable diagnostics, prophylactics and/or therapeutics.