ICTVdB – Virus Database

The Universal Virus Database of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The ICTVdB is a dynamic database containing information about viruses of animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi.1

Description

The directory of ICTVdB  is an Index of Viruses, a list of approved virus names linked to virus descriptions coded from information in Virus Taxonomy. It also incorporates the plant virus database VIDEdB and is illustrated with Electron Microscope pictures, diagrams and images of symptoms contributed by virologists around the world.2

Ebola virions, diagnostic specimen from the first passage in Vero cells of a specimen from a human patient — this image is from the first isolation and visualization of Ebola virus, 1976. In this case, some of the filamentous virions are fused together, end-to-end, giving the appearance of a "bowl of spaghetti.".3

ICTVdB uses a decimal code to present, on the Web:

• searchable descriptions of virus isolates, species, genera, families, orders,
• images of many viruses, and
• links to genomic and protein databanks.

ICTVdB uses DELTA format:

• for user-friendly simultaneous access to character list, data files and specification files
• for interactive identification and data retrieval,
• for data conversion shopfronts eg for phylogenetic research.

ICTVdB is also using:

• entry forms on the Web to peer review new virus data through ICTV Study Groups.
• descriptions on the level of isolates and species for all known viruses.4

The character list for ICTVdB consists of over 2600 different viral properties which are used to describe and characterise viral taxa.5 All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations from the encoded descriptions are automatically generated and formatted for display.6

Initially designed for taxonomic research, the ICTVdB has evolved to become a major reference resource and research tool.7

Function

• Visualisation tools
  • Images
• Taxonomy
  • Identification tools, keys
• User interface
  • Personal use
  • Raw data and visual presentation

Why use this tool?

• An authoritative source for virus names and descriptions

Who will use this tool?

• Data creation
  • Experts - taxonomy
• Data providers
  • Institutions
• Data users
  • Expert

How will the tool be used?

To use the identification and information retrieval program, the Intkey software and Intkey data files are needed. The Intkey software is freely available.8

• Online searchable database
• Virus descriptions are generated automatically from DELTA files
• User input is required.

Where in the data chain could this tool be used?

• Data source
• User’s machine

When could this tool be used?

• Before data is made available to ALA
• At the time of a user request
• As a post process, after data is with the user

Availability

• ICTVdB: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/index.htm
• Index of viruses: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/Ictv/ICTVindex.htm
• Tutorial: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/Tutorial/
• Intkey required for identification: http://delta-intkey.com/
• Actively developed and maintained by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond
• Copyright: International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses
• Licence not mentioned

Comments

• Some descriptions are only very basic and links may point to documents that are not yet published on the Web.9