Hymenoptera Genome Database: Integrated Community Resources for Insect Species of the Order Hymenoptera

The Hymenoptera Genome Database (HGD; http://HymenopteraGenome.org) is an informatics resource supporting genomics of hymenoptera insect species. HGD currently provides genomic data of honey bee (Apis mellifera), parasitoid wasp (Nasonia vitripennis), two bumble bee species (Bombus terrestris and B. impatiens) and seven ant species (Acromyrmex echinatior, Atta cephalotes, Camponotus floridanus, Harpegnathos saltator, Linepithema humile, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, and Solenopsis invicta). We will soon incorporate two additional Apis species (A. florea and A. dorsata). Bringing these species together across 200 million years in the phylogeny of Hymenoptera greatly facilitates comparative genomics, which will advance our understanding of processes relevant to social insect biology, as well as agriculturally important hymenoptera species. In addition to providing a central location for hymenopteran genomics data, HGD includes the genomes of three bee pathogens: Ascosphaera apis, Nosema ceranae, and Paenibacillus larvae. Users may access the data via genome browsers (Gbrowse), BLAST searching and large file download. Datasets include genome assemblies, computed and manually-annotated genes, protein homologs, cDNA sequences, non-coding RNA sequences, RNA-Seq-based expression data and genetic markers. Links among pre-computed orthologs allow users to navigate across species genomes. Our most recent annotation efforts include computational annotation of the two Bombus genome assemblies and the newest A. mellifera assembly (Amel_4.5). We seek input from research community members by providing manual annotation resources. Direct connections between our databases and Apollo Annotation client software on user workstations facilitates retrieval of annotation evidence and submission of new gene models back to HGD.