RASTtk: A modular and extensible implementation of the RAST algorithm for building custom annotation pipelines and annotating batches of genomes

The RAST (Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology) annotation engine was built in 2008 to annotate bacterial and archaeal genomes. It works by offering a standard software pipeline for identifying genomic features (i.e., protein-encoding genes and RNA) and annotating their functions. Recently, in order to make RAST a more useful research tool and to keep pace with advancements in bioinformatics, it has become desirable to build a version of RAST that is both customizable and extensible. In this paper, we describe the RAST tool kit (RASTtk), a modular version of RAST that enables researchers to build custom annotation pipelines. RASTtk offers a choice of software for identifying and annotating genomic…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1305112, 1330800, DE-AC02-06CH11357, MCB-1330800, NNA13AA91A
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: NNA13AA91A, AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02, 06CH11357, DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-AC02-
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Awards: NNA13AA91A, DE-AC02-06CH11357
• NA
  NASA Astrobiology Institute

  Award: NNA13AA91A
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DE-AC02-06CH11357, NNA13AA91A, HHSN272201400027C
• SM
  Science Mission Directorate
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Award: HHSN272201400027C