FFW_DB: a dynamic integrated database for investigating the specialized mutualism of figs and fig wasps
TL;DR
The Fig–Fig Wasp Database is developed, a dynamic, symbiosis-focused resource designed to accelerate genetic research on fig–fig wasp coevolution, with particular emphasis on key traits underlying species-specific coadaptation.
Abstract
The mutualistic relationship between figs ( Ficus , Moraceae) and their obligate pollinating fig wasps (Agaonidae, Hymenoptera) has served as a classic model for studying coevolution and coadaptation for over 150 years. With the rapid advancement of high-throughput genomic and transcriptomic sequencing technologies, we developed the Fig–Fig Wasp Database (FFW_DB; http://www.ffw-db.cn/ ), a dynamic, symbiosis-focused resource designed to accelerate genetic research on fig–fig wasp coevolution, with particular emphasis on key traits underlying species-specific coadaptation. FFW_DB integrates a suite of widely used third-party bioinformatics tools, enabling comprehensive analyses including the identification, functional annotation, and phylogenetic reconstruction of coadaptation-related genes. In addition, the database provides access to AlphaFold2-predicted three-dimensional structures of fig wasp olfactory receptors (ORs) and supports molecular docking simulations between ORs and target fig volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—a core functional module that facilitates the screening of fig-derived active substances mediating pollinator attraction. By consolidating comprehensive multi-omics data resources and versatile analytical capabilities, FFW_DB serves as a specialized platform to support and accelerate research on cospeciation and coevolutionary dynamics in plant–insect mutualistic systems.