ArVirInd - a database of arboviral antigenic proteins from the Indian subcontinent

Studies on antigenic proteins for arboviruses are important for providing diagnostics and vaccine development. India and its neighbouring countries have huge burden of arboviral diseases. Data mining for country-specific sequences from existing databases is cumbersome and time-consuming. This necessitated the development of a database of antigenic proteins from arbo-viruses isolated from the countries of the Indian subcontinent. Arboviral antigenic protein sequences were obtained from the NCBI and other databases. In silico antigenic characterization was performed (Epitope predictions) and data incorporated in the database. The front end is designed and developed using HTML, CSS and PHP. For the backend of the database, we have used MySQL. A database, named ArVirInd, is created as a repository of information on antigenic proteins. This enlists sequences by country and year of outbreak or origin of the viral strain. For each entry antigenic information is provided along with functional sites, etc. Researchers can search this database by virus/protein name, country and year of collection (or in combination). It is available publicly via Internet at http://www.arvirind.co.in. ArVirInd will be useful in the study of immuno-informatics, diagnostics and vaccinology for arboviruses.