Table of Contents
The Mycovirus Database (MVDB): A New Online Resource for Fungal Virus Genomics
Last Updated: July 29, 2025
Author Bio: This research summary is based on the doctoral thesis of Wajeeha Shamsi, a researcher from the Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences at the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad. Her work focuses on the identification and characterization of novel mycoviruses from environmental sources.
Introduction
The field of virology is experiencing an unprecedented data explosion, thanks to advancements in next-generation sequencing. While this has led to the rapid discovery of novel viruses, it also presents a significant challenge: information is often scattered across vast, generalized databases, making targeted research difficult. For scientists studying the unique world of fungal viruses, this data fragmentation can slow down progress. Addressing this exact problem, a 2020 thesis by Wajeeha Shamsi details the development of the very first dedicated Mycovirus Database (MVDB). This post explores the purpose, design, and practical use of this vital new resource for the scientific community.
The Need for a Centralized Mycovirus Database
The primary purpose of database development in science is to furnish the needs of data processing, maintenance, and rapid access. Considering the expeditious rise in the number of sequenced data, it is unavoidable to study viruses from a broader taxonomic perspective without a comprehensive interaction network of both viruses and hosts. For this reason, there was a dire need to develop a database so that information is readily available to researchers. Furthermore, with ease in data access, it has become feasible to carry out different in silico analyses with the data.
The Mycovirus Database was conceived as the first and exclusive online database for mycoviruses. It was designed to provide a user-friendly interface that would be useful to perform different sequence-related analyses of mycoviral genomes, providing a single, organized repository for this critical information.
Inside the MVDB: A Snapshot of Fungal Virus Genomics
The Mycovirus Database represents a significant effort to collate and organize all existing mycovirus genomes into one accessible platform. At the time of its initial compilation (data taken on September 25, 2018), there were 8,100 complete viral genomes deposited in the NCBI Reference Sequence database.
Out of 336 mycoviruses cataloged in the MVDB:
- 246 viruses belong to the dsRNA genome. This includes:
- 107 from Partitiviridae
- 49 from Endornaviridae
- 45 from Totiviridae
- 27 from Chrysoviridae
- 7 from Mycoreoviridae
- 50 viruses belong to the +ssRNA genome (including narnaviruses, hypoviruses, and fusariviruses).
- 1 member represents the -ssRNA genome (Mycomononegavirus).
- 1 member of Mycodnaviridae.
- 40 unclassified viruses.
This structured collection allows researchers to investigate the shared functional features of viruses and their hosts to infer their evolutionary histories.
Designing the Mycovirus Database: Structure and Organization
A robust database requires a logical and efficient design. The Mycovirus Database is built on a foundation of normalization to ensure data integrity and prevent redundancy. The core of the database is a table named ‘MYCOV’, which is designed to hold specific, crucial information for every entry.
The main table is comprised of columns corresponding to the data types that define the kind of information stored in that particular column. In the web interface, these columns are represented as:
- ID: A unique ID assigned to each sequence within the MVDB.
- NCBI Accession Number: The corresponding accession number from the public NCBI database.
- Genome: Represents the nature of the genome (e.g., ssRNA, dsRNA).
- Host: The fungal host from which the virus was isolated.
- Virus: The name of the mycovirus.
- Genome Size: The length of the sequence in base pairs.
- Nucleotide Sequence: The full FASTA sequence data.
This clear structure ensures that all essential information is logically organized and easily accessible, forming the basis of a powerful fungal virus database.
A Practical Guide to Using the Mycovirus Database
The web interface of the Mycovirus Database was built to provide a user-friendly experience for accessing, downloading, and submitting information.
How to Retrieve Data
The information in the database can be retrieved by selecting the desired family of mycovirus from the drop-down menu under the ‘Sequence’ tab and hitting the ‘go’ button. This allows users to quickly filter the extensive catalog and find the specific mycovirus genome data they need.
How to Download Sequences
Information in the database can be downloaded by clicking on any of the tabs located at the top of the tables, including formats like Copy, CSV, Excel, and PDF. The full FASTA sequences can be downloaded by clicking on the “Download” tab at the top right side of the table, making it simple to export data for offline analysis.
How to Submit Your Own Sequence Data
To keep the Mycovirus Database current and comprehensive, researchers can add new sequence data. This can be done by navigating to the “Submit Sequence” tab located on the main web page or by clicking the ‘+Create’ tab on the ‘Sequences’ page. This feature allows the database to grow with the field and remain an up-to-date resource.
The Technical Foundation of the MVDB
The mycovirus database is a web application developed on PHP, AJAX, and Jquery on top of a MySQL database. Both technologies are based upon Open Source free-to-use licenses. The underlying database has three tables: one for user registration, one for the virus classification, and another one for virus information. This robust and scalable foundation ensures the database can handle a growing volume of data and user traffic.
Conclusion
The creation of the Mycovirus Database (MVDB) is a landmark achievement in the study of fungal virology. It provides the first dedicated, centralized resource for researchers, streamlining the process of finding, comparing, and analyzing mycoviral genomes. By offering a user-friendly platform for data retrieval and submission, this database is poised to accelerate our understanding of the evolutionary histories and functional features of these unique viruses and their hosts.
Source & Citations
- Thesis Title: Molecular and Biological Characterization of Mycovirus Identified from Environmental Fungal Isolates
- Researcher: Wajeeha Shamsi
- Guide (Supervisor): Dr. Muhammad Faraz Bhatti
- University: Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
- Year of Compilation: 2020
- Excerpt Page Numbers: 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
Disclaimer: Some sentences have been lightly edited for SEO and readability. For the full, original research, please refer to the complete thesis PDF linked in the section above.
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