Next-generation sequencing technologies and plant molecular virology: a practical perspective

Over the past two decades next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized the world of biological sciences. With every passing day, the decline in the cost of sequencing and the availability of free online software and tools for data analysis has made it possible to quickly sequence and analyze the massive amount of genomic data being generated. NGS has the potential to not only greatly improve the research productivity in a short period of time but can also provide more reliable and effective information for practical purposes. Viruses are small infectious particles that affect not only humans but also plants, thereby causing huge economic losses every year globally. Plant viruses are enormous in number and their mutation rate is extremely high, which makes it nearly impossible to control them. In order to design effective virus-control strategies it is of utmost importance for us to understand viral genomics. NGS technologies offer the most suitable platform for rapid sequencing of plant viruses, making it convenient for the scientific community to have a better understanding of virus replication and pathogenicity. On the other hand primary biological databases, such as GenBank, DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ), and European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) are playing a crucial role in data retrieval and analysis.