Bio::DB::EUtilities - interface for handling web queries and data retrieval from NCBI's Entrez Utilities.
use Bio::DB::EUtilities;
my $esearch = Bio::DB::EUtilities->new(-eutil => 'esearch', -db => 'pubmed', -term => 'hutP', -usehistory => 'y'); $esearch->get_response; # parse the response, fetch a cookie my $elink = Bio::DB::EUtilities->new(-eutil => 'elink', -db => 'protein', -dbfrom => 'pubmed', -cookie => $esearch->next_cookie, -cmd => 'neighbor_history'); $elink->get_response; # parse the response, fetch the next cookie my $efetch = Bio::DB::EUtilities->new(-cookie => $elink->next_cookie, -retmax => 10, -rettype => 'fasta'); print $efetch->get_response->content;
WARNING: Please do NOT spam the Entrez web server with multiple requests. NCBI offers Batch Entrez for this purpose, now accessible here via epost!
This is a test interface to NCBI's Entrez Utilities. The main purpose of this is to enable access to all of NCBI's databases available through Entrez and allow for more complex queries. It is likely that the API for this module as well as the documentation will change dramatically over time. So, novice users and neophytes beware!
The experimental base class is Bio::DB::GenericWebDBI, which as the name implies enables access to any web database which will accept parameters. This was originally born from an idea to replace WebDBSeqI/NCBIHelper with a more general web database accession tool so one could access sequence information, taxonomy, SNP, PubMed, and so on. However, this may ultimately prove to be better used as a replacement for LWP::UserAgent when ccessing NCBI-related web tools (Entrez Utilitites, or EUtilities). Using the base class GenericWebDBI, one could also build web interfaces to other databases to access anything via CGI parameters.
Currently, you can access any database available through the NCBI interface:
http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
At this point, Bio::DB::EUtilities uses the EUtilities plugin modules somewhat like Bio::SeqIO. So, one would call the particular EUtility (epost, efetch, and so forth) upon instantiating the object using a set of parameters:
my $esearch = Bio::DB::EUtilities->new(-eutil => 'esearch', -db => 'pubmed', -term => 'dihydroorotase', -usehistory => 'y');
The default EUtility (when eutil is left out) is 'efetch'. For specifics on each EUtility, see their respective POD (**these are incomplete**) or the NCBI Entrez Utilities page:
eutil
http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query/static/eutils_help.html
At this time, retrieving the response is accomplished by using the method get_response (which also parses for cookies and other information, see below). This method returns an HTTP::Response object. The raw data is accessed by using the object method content, like so:
content
my $efetch = Bio::DB::EUtilities->new( -cookie => $elink->next_cookie, -retmax => 10, -rettype => 'fasta'); print $efetch->get_response->content;
Based on this, if one wanted to retrieve sequences or other raw data but was not interested in directly using Bio* objects (such as if genome sequences were to be retrieved) one could do so by using the proper EUtility object(s) and query(ies) and get the raw response back from NCBI through 'efetch'.
A great deal of the documentation here will likely end up in the form of a HOWTO at some future point, focusing on getting data into Bioperl objects.
Some EUtilities (epost, esearch, or elink) retain information on the NCBI server under certain settings. This information can be retrieved by using a cookie. Here, the idea of the 'cookie' is similar to the ' cookie' set on a user's computer when browsing the Web. XML data returned by these EUtilities, when applicable, is parsed for the cookie information (the 'WebEnv' and 'query_key' tags to be specific) The information along with other identifying data, such as the calling eutility, description of query, etc.) is stored as a Bio::DB::EUtilities::Cookie object in an internal queue. These can be retrieved one at a time by using the next_cookie method or all at once in an array using get_all_cookies. Each cookie can then be 'fed', one at a time, to another EUtility object, thus enabling chained queries as demonstrated in the synopsis.
epost
esearch
elink
For more information, see the POD documentation for Bio::DB::EUtilities::Cookie.
Resetting internal parameters is planned so one could feasibly reuse the objects once instantiated, such as if one were to use this as a replacement for LWP::UserAgent when retrieving responses i.e. when using many of the Bio::DB* NCBI-related modules.
File and filehandle support to be added.
Switch over XML parsing in most EUtilities to XML::SAX (currently use XML::Simple)
Any feedback is welcome.
User feedback is an integral part of the evolution of this and other Bioperl modules. Send your comments and suggestions preferably to one of the Bioperl mailing lists. Your participation is much appreciated.
bioperl-l@lists.open-bio.org - General discussion http://www.bioperl.org/wiki/Mailing_lists - About the mailing lists
Report bugs to the Bioperl bug tracking system to help us keep track the bugs and their resolution. Bug reports can be submitted via the web.
http://bugzilla.open-bio.org/
Email cjfields at uiuc dot edu
The rest of the documentation details each of the object methods. Internal methods are usually preceded with a _
Title : cookie Usage : $db->add_cookie($cookie) Function: adds an NCBI query cookie to the internal cookie queue Returns : none Args : a Bio::DB::EUtilities::Cookie object
Title : next_cookie Usage : $cookie = $db->next_cookie Function: return a cookie from the internal cookie queue Returns : a Bio::DB::EUtilities::Cookie object Args : none
Title : reset_cookies Usage : $db->reset_cookies Function: resets (empties) the internal cookie queue Returns : none Args : none
Title : get_all_cookies Usage : @cookies = $db->get_all_cookies Function: retrieves all cookies from the internal cookie queue; this leaves the cookies in the queue intact Returns : array of cookies (if wantarray) of first cookie Args : none
Title : get_cookie_count Usage : $ct = $db->get_cookie_count Function: returns # cookies in internal queue Returns : integer Args : none
Title : rewind_cookies Usage : $elink->rewind_cookies; Function: resets cookie index to 0 (starts over) Returns : None Args : None
Title : keep_cookies Usage : $db->keep_cookie(1) Function: Flag to retain the internal cookie queue; this is normally emptied upon using get_response Returns : none Args : Boolean - value that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE
Title : parse_response Usage : $db->_parse_response($content) Function: parse out response for cookies and other goodies Returns : empty Args : none Throws : Not implemented (implemented in plugin classes)
Title : get_response Usage : $db->get_response($content) Function: main method to submit request and retrieves a response Returns : HTTP::Response object Args : None
Title : get_ids Usage : $count = $elink->get_ids($db); # array ref of specific db ids @ids = $esearch->get_ids(); # array $ids = $esearch->get_ids(); # array ref Function: returns an array or array ref of unique IDs. Returns : array or array ref of ids Args : Optional : database string if elink used (required arg if searching multiple databases for related IDs) Currently implemented only for elink object with single linksets
Title : delay_policy Usage : $secs = $self->delay_policy Function: return number of seconds to delay between calls to remote db Returns : number of seconds to delay Args : none NOTE: NCBI requests a delay of 3 seconds between requests. This method implements that policy.
Title : get_entrezdbs Usage : @dbs = $self->get_entrezdbs; Function: return list of all Entrez databases; convenience method Returns : array or array ref (based on wantarray) of databases Args : none
Title : _eutil Usage : $db->_eutil; Function: sets eutil Returns : eutil Args : eutil
To install Bio::Seq, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.
cpanm
cpanm Bio::Seq
CPAN shell
perl -MCPAN -e shell install Bio::Seq
For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.