Providing access to MGnify for microbiome data discovery and interpretation: challenges, successes, and future directions

The MGnify resource hosts one of the largest collections of publicly available assembled metagenomes, and an associated database containing billions of derived proteins. In recent years, MGnify has expanded its offerings to include biome-specific catalogues of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), derived from these assemblies as well as community-contributed MAGs. These catalogues are providing valuable insights into microbial diversity across various environments and host-associated ecosystems, including those of humans.
In this presentation, I will discuss the scientific considerations, technical advancements, and challenges encountered in making these data and services accessible to the research community. Particular focus will be placed on the efforts to ensure the provenance and transparency of our data products. Finally, I will explore the evolving landscape of microbiome research and the pivotal role MGnify will continue to play in advancing scientific discovery and collaboration.