ena-database

Retrieve nucleotide sequences and associated data from ENA via REST APIs.

52|6|Updated Nov 24, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/ovachiever/droid-tings --skill ena-database
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ena-database
Source: https://github.com/ovachiever/droid-tings/tree/main/skills/ena-database
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/ovachiever/droid-tings --skill ena-database

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

ENA-database enables programmatic access to the European Nucleotide Archive for retrieving sequences, raw reads, assemblies, annotations, and taxonomy information for genomics workflows.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Portal API searches across studies, samples, assemblies, and analyses
  • Browser API records retrieval in XML/text formats
  • Taxonomy and cross-reference data for integration into pipelines

Quick Start

Use Portal API to search for samples by study_accession and fetch a FASTA/EMBL data, or query taxonomy for a given tax ID.

Frequently Asked Questions about ena-database

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I retrieve nucleotide sequences from ENA by accession number?

Use the ENA Browser API to fetch sequence records by accession. Submit accession identifiers and specify output formats (XML, FASTA, EMBL) via REST endpoints to retrieve raw sequences, assemblies, or annotations directly into your workflow.

Can I download FASTQ files and raw reads from ENA in bulk?

Yes. The Portal API supports bulk downloads of raw reads in FASTQ format across multiple samples and studies. Query by study_accession or metadata criteria, then retrieve datasets programmatically or via FTP within the 50 requests-per-second rate limit.

What data formats does ENA support for sequence retrieval?

ENA provides multiple formats: XML, JSON, TSV/CSV for metadata; FASTA and FASTQ for sequences; BAM/CRAM for aligned reads. Choose formats via the Portal, Browser, or Taxonomy API depending on your downstream analysis requirements.

How do I search ENA for samples and assemblies by study or taxonomy?

Use the Portal API to search across studies, samples, assemblies, and analyses by accession, metadata criteria, or taxonomy ID. Query returns structured results in XML or JSON, filterable by organism, sequence type, or project identifier.

Can I integrate ENA taxonomy and cross-reference data into bioinformatics pipelines?

Yes. The Taxonomy and Cross-Reference APIs provide linked taxonomic classifications and external database references. Retrieve these programmatically via REST and embed results into annotation, classification, or comparative genomics workflows.