VirusSeq Data Portal and Duotang

The Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal and Duotang provide open access to Canadian SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and contextual data, and present dynamic analyses and visualizations of circulating variants to track viral evolution and inform public health response.

Key Features:

• Data Access: The portal provides open access to Canadian SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and enhanced, standardized contextual data that meet FAIR standards (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable).
• Data Quality and Governance: The portal data submission pipeline contains data quality checking procedures and appropriate acknowledgement of data generators, with a focus on strong data governance principles, Canadian privacy laws, and data security standards.
• Variant Composition Analysis: Duotang presents dynamic changes in variant composition of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada and by province.
• Variant Growth Estimation: Duotang estimates variant growth of circulating and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
• Interactive Visualizations: Duotang displays complementary interactive visualizations with a text overview of the current genomic epidemiology situation.
• Integration with Related Resources: The portal is coupled with resources such as Viral AI, COVID-MVP, and CoVizu, and was leveraged by the Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net) to produce continually updated analytical tools and notebooks.

Scientific Applications:

• Genomic Epidemiology: The resources provide an updated picture of SARS-CoV-2 evolution to inform public health authorities and support public health communication.
• Variant Surveillance: Duotang enables tracking of circulating and emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants in Canada at the national and provincial levels.
• Scientific and Public Discourse: The resources spur scientific discussions and inform public discourse on viral evolution and pandemic response.
• Framework for Data Sharing: The resources serve as a framework for other jurisdictions interested in open, collaborative sequence data sharing and analyses.

Methodology:

The portal was developed with data pipelines and procedures for data submission, quality checking, and contextual data standardization. Duotang presents genomic epidemiology and modelling analyses computed from portal data.