VirJenDB: the metadata-centric Virus database from FSU Jena

This poster was presented at the Fellowship of the Data — International RDM Community Meeting 2025 (Jena, 1-2 April 2025). Abstract Viral databases are vital for bioinformatics-driven virological research; however, research is hindered by errors in user-submitted sequences and metadata. Despite ongoing community efforts to curate virus metadata and establish standards, structured models for specific virus groups are needed to enhance FAIR data across disciplines like ecology, medicine, and agriculture. The VirJenDB virus sequence database presents a metadata-driven approach to support virus researchers at multiple steps of the research data lifecycle. An extensive metadata catalogue was harvested along with virus sequences from publicly available sources, including databases such as NCBI Virus, ENA and the BVBRC, and community-driven standards like the MIGS-VI and ENV-O. The VJDB team leverages this dataset in the development of web-accessible services, including customizable metadata templates which integrate with our pilot ENA submission wizard and can be populated using existing ontologies and database suggestions to guide researchers and encourage the deposition of metadata-rich virus sequences to the ENA. In summary, VJDB aims to empower researchers with a web portal to support virus research from the initial stages to publication and beyond. Thus, the VJDB will help develop extensive virus metadata standards from and for sharing with the research community. Website https://virjendb.org/