The i5k Workspace@NAL - Enabling Genomic Data Access, Visualization, and Curation of Arthropod Genomes

Decreasing high-throughput sequencing costs have placed the sequencing and assembly of non-model genomes in reach of individual research groups. The 5,000 arthropod genomes initiative (i5k) was born out of the recognition that a coordinated effort to sequence many insect or related arthropod genomes would benefit the research community as a whole. One identified need of the i5k community is a centralized platform to visualize, share, and curate arthropod genome assemblies and annotations, many of which will be generated by small communities with little bioinformatics experience. The i5k Workspace@NAL was developed by the National Agricultural Library to help meet this need. Here, we describe the i5k Workspace@NAL functions for data contributers and data consumers, focusing on how new users can contribute new content, as well as participate in existing genome projects. Any insect or arthropod genome project is considered part of the i5k and is welcome to submit content. Genome assemblies are provided a central ‘home’ page within the i5k workspace, and their content is made accessible via genome browsers, BLAST, data download pages, and the Web Apollo manual curation tool. Users can search for content across all hosted species, which includes not only species relevant for agricultural research, but also invasion biology, developmental biology, evolution and ecology.