Title: VirOligo
Compilation Lab
URL: http://viroligo.okstate.edu/
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002
Description: This website is a " VirOligo database collects virus-specific oligonucleotides for virus detection from published literature." And the objective of this website is that " We believe that the VirOligo database will simplify your search for oligonucleotides." A Oklahoma State University based website, maintained by the department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a lot of students involved. This is the only know viral oligonucleotides database to me.
Strengths: One of a kind, with a reasonable list of viruses. Easy to search for the virus of interest, and easy to know what kind of oligonucleotide is available. It comes with very detail information with each oligonucleotide, includes sequences, PCR conditions, and the enzymes used, and concentration of each component as defined by the literature.
Weaknesses: Information is extracted from literature, the availability of detail of each oligonucleotide varies.
Comprehensiveness: Relatively comprehensive.
Timeliness: It updates once every several months, the last updates in on Mar, 2002. As an non-profit, private/lab run database, it is very reasonable.
Ease of Use: Reasonable..
Responsiveness: Responsive.
Similar or Related Sites: None, as far as I know.
Overall Evaluation: ??? (out of five)
Reviewer: Albert Tai
Email: albert.tai@tufts.edu