Episode 145: Micro binfie Pathoplexus part 2

In this episode of the microbinfie podcast, the hosts discuss Pathoplexus, an innovative pathogen genomics database with a unique community-driven governance model and open-source approach.

Nabil and Lee bring a guest host Clint to talk with some of the people behind Pathoplexus http://pathoplexus.org/

Key Points

1. Database Governance

• Established as a Swiss 'Verein' (association) with community accountability
• Members can vote out executive board if unsatisfied with direction
• Designed to serve the pathogen genomics and public health community

2. Open-Source and Transparency

• Everything is open-source and hosted on GitHub
• Users can raise issues, request features, and report sequence errors
• Encourages community participation and continuous improvement

3. Data Sharing and Commercial Use

• Allows sequence uploads with flexible usage terms
• Acknowledges challenges of pathogen access and benefit sharing
• Aims to remain adaptable to future global solutions

Take-Home Messages

• Community-driven databases can revolutionize scientific data sharing
• Transparent governance is crucial for scientific infrastructure
• Open-source platforms enable rapid iteration and community engagement