Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center (BV-BRC)

Infectious diseases are a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, presenting a persistent existential risk to humanity. Disease epidemics such as COVID, MERS, SARS, and Ebola bring the issue into sharp focus. In contrast, perennial diseases such as influenza, tuberculosis, and sepsis create ongoing human health and welfare challenges. Antimicrobial resistance, difficulties in vaccine development, zoonotic transfer from animal reservoirs, and bioengineered threats further and inflame the problem.

In 2004, NIH/NIAID initiated the Bioinformatics Resource Centers for Infectious Diseases program. It provides public access to computational platforms and analysis tools that enable the collecting and integration of genomics and related research data relevant to infectious diseases, pathogens, and their interaction with host organisms. The Bacterial and Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center (BV-BRC) is utilized in this program.