Cordula Hege (Brunswick / DE), Carmen Paulmann (Brunswick / DE), Anke Becker (Marburg / DE), Peer Brock (Heidelberg / DE), Thomas Clavel (Aachen / DE), Ulisses Nunes da Rocha (Leipzig / DE), Konrad U. Förstner (Cologne / DE), Alexander Goesmann (Gießen / DE), Babara Götz (Cologne / DE), Manja Menz (Jena / DE), Jörg Overmann (Brunswick / DE), Jens Stoye (Bielefeld / DE), Alice McHardy (Brunswick / DE)
Abstract text
Introduction
Recent technologies like high-throughput molecular sequencing lead to the generation of large data. However, the use and re-use of this data has failed to exploit its potential. The NFDI (National Research Data Infrastructure) wants to change this by developing a comprehensive research data management, encompassing different consortia. NFDI4Microbiota aims to facilitate the digital transformation in the microbiological community (bacteriology, mycology, virology and parasitology). Providing access to data, analysis services, training and standards.
Objectives
Central for the NFDI4Microbiota consortium is the development and provision of the computational infrastructure and analytical workflows required to store, access, process, and interpret various microbiome- and parasitology-related data types. NFDI4Microbiota works on developing and implementing software and standardized workflows for users to analyse their own datasets (i.e. for quality control, data processing, statistical analyses, and visualizations of different data types and results).
Materials & methods
The German microbial research will be engaged through training and community building activities, and by creating a cloud-based system that will make the storage, integration and analysis of microbial data, especially omics data, consistent, reproducible, and accessible. So, NFDI4Microbiota will promote the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable) principles and Open Science.
Results
NFDI4Microbiota consists of ten well-established partner institutions, is supported by five professional societies and more than 50 participants. Several workshops and training events for the community have already taken place and more will follow. Moreover, the consortium launched an ambassador program to connect with the participants, thereby helping to identify the needs of their local community. Technical solutions are developed, tested and refined in several use cases from different fields of microbiology. All relevant information and specific services are made available via the web portal.
Conclusion
Producers and users of data will benefit from FAIR data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable) more likely to be cited and integrated into a wider microbial inquiry. The current data parasitism would shift to a future data mutualism benefiting all partners. The NFDI4Microbiota will support the parasitology community through this process with an elaborate training program.