Animal model integration to AutDB, a genetic database for autism

As with the original AutDB, all data is extracted from published, peer-reviewed scientific literature. Animal models are annotated with a new standardized vocabulary of phenotypic terms developed by our researchers which is designed to reflect the diverse clinical manifestations of ASD. The new Animal Model module is seamlessly integrated to AutDB for dissemination of diverse information related to ASD. Animal model entries within the new module are linked to corresponding candidate genes in the original "Human Gene" module of the resource, thereby allowing for cross-modal navigation between gene models and human gene studies. Although the current release of the Animal Model module is restricted to mouse models, it was designed with an expandable framework which can easily incorporate additional species and non-genetic etiological models of autism in the future.Importantly, this modular ASD database provides a platform from which data mining, bioinformatics, and/or computational biology strategies may be adopted to develop predictive disease models that may offer further insights into the molecular underpinnings of this disorder. It also serves as a general model for disease-driven databases curating phenotypic characteristics of corresponding animal models.The dramatic rise in the prevalence of autism in recent years is of major public concern [1,2]. Autism (MIM 209850) is a broad-spectrum, multifactorial condition that onsets during the first years of life with a core triad of deficits in the areas of social communication, language development, repetitive activities and restricted range of interests (DSM IV, 1994). Due to the existence of a wide range of autism-related symptoms, this complex disorder is commonly described in the context of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).A strong genetic component underlying ASD has been firmly established from various lines of studies [3-6] Genomic advances have led to the identification of hundreds of ASD candidate genes [7-11].