Glossary

data source

A data source regroups the results of interaction tests between viruses and hosts. Data sources have associated meta data such as the owner, the life domain for the hosts, and the description of the data.

virus

Any virus should be named according the literature. When the genome of a virus is available in the NCBI nucleotide databank, the corresponding identifier should be specified. Example: virus T4 and its NCBI identifier:T4 (NC_000866.4). You can also provide its HER Number: T4 (NC_000866.4; HER:27).

host

Any host should be named according to the literature. When the genome of a host is available in the NCBI nucleotide databank, the corresponding identifier should be specified. Example: E. coli MG1655 and its NCBI identifier: E. coli MG1655 (NC_000913.3).

response

A response corresponds to the result of the interaction test between one virus and one host. In the VHRdb, responses are digits that correspond to the global scheme.

raw response

Each user/lab has its own way to record the output of host range tests, from basic two-state (infection/no infection) to more detailed information such as numerical values corresponding to efficiency of plating calculations. A raw response is the value that was in the file when it was imported.

global scheme

The responses in the VHRdb can only take 3 values corresponding to the VHRdb’s Global scheme. This scheme classifies virus-host interactions in 3 states : “No infection”, corresponding to value “0”, “Intermediate”, corresponding to value “1” and “Infection”, corresponding to value “2”.

identifier

An identifier is an additional information related to a virus or a host. Identifiers can currently be NCBI identifiers, HER identifiers, or custom identifiers. Identifiers are optional, but recommended when available. More information in Identifying viruses and hosts.