In the same way that the FBI archives the fingerprints of criminals nationwide, the Laboratory archives the genetic codes for influenza strains worldwide. This project - the Influenza Sequence Database (ISD) - is a repository for influenza sequences. Researchers worldwide use the ISD to track influenza as it mutates and spreads around the globe.
The ISD project, which began in 1998, now holds all published influenza A, B and C sequences and a large number of unpublished sequences. The Laboratory's database is the largest public collection of such codes in existence. The ISD stores alignment of flu DNA sequences, providing a unique view of pathogens and their "family" of members. The ISD provides expert curation and is openly available to all flu researchers, both public and private.
"What we have is totally unique," said ISD project leader Catherine Macken of Theoretical Biology and Biophysics (T-10). "The [Los Alamos] ISD is used by thousands of researchers all over the world and is a great example of how public and private organizations can partner to solve one of the most threatening dilemmas facing mankind."
Researchers continue to build the database by directly depositing sequences into the ISD. The ISD provides the research community with sequence deposit and retrieval capabilities. In addition, the ISD has developed tools for analysis of the evolution of the virus, including the two viral proteins, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, that are targets for vaccines and anti-influenza drugs. Details about ISD can be found at http://flu.lanl.gov online.
Given its long history of success and commitment to the influenza research community, the project has recently been expanded to offer researchers custom tools and private storage on a subscription basis. Base subscriptions to the ISD start at $1,500 annually for non-commercial organizations and $4,000 annually for commercial entities.
The ISD is used by two classes of researchers and medical professionals:
1. Public Users - Current public users access ISD with minimal or no interaction with the Los Alamos ISD team. These users access only the publicly available data in the database don't require customization of the existing ISD tools to serve their research needs.
2. Private Users - Private users require some level of interaction with the ISD team to meet their specialized needs for the database. They often require customized research tools and may need the Los Alamos team to set up private compartments within ISD to house their proprietary data. Current private users include representation from public health organizations responsible for vaccine design.
The ISD has been funded in the past by a "who's who" of bioinformatics experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Energy, the University of California and the Laboratory.
