The RefSeq data model for viruses differs from that of other organisms. In general, only one complete RefSeq genome is created for each viral species. Occasionally multiple RefSeq records are created within a given viral species to reflect well defined genotypes or important laboratory and/or wild strains. Additional genomes for a given species are validated for taxonomy and completeness and then indexed as sequence ‘neighbors’ (52). Both RefSeq and neighbor genomes are retrievable through the specialized Viral Genome Resource (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/viruses/) and from Entrez Nucleotide and Genome pages using ‘RefSeq Genome for Species’ and ‘Other INSDC Genome Sequences’ links (52).
