BLAST Ring Image Generator download

BRIG is a cross-platform (Windows/Mac/Unix) application that can display circular comparisons between a large number of genomes, with a focus on handling genome assembly data.

Please cite the BRIG paper if BRIG is used to generate figures for publications: NF Alikhan, NK Petty, NL Ben Zakour, SA Beatson (2011) BLAST Ring Image Generator (BRIG): simple prokaryote genome comparisons, BMC Genomics, 12:402. PMID: 21824423

Features

Images show similarity between a central reference sequence and other sequences as concentric rings.
BRIG will perform all BLAST comparisons and file parsing automatically via a simple GUI.
Contig boundaries and read coverage can be displayed for draft genomes; customized graphs and annotations can be displayed.
Using a user-defined set of genes as input, BRIG can display gene presence, absence, truncation or sequence variation in a set of complete genomes, draft genomes or even raw, unassembled sequence data.
BRIG also accepts SAM-formatted read-mapping files enabling genomic regions present in unassembled sequence data from multiple samples to be compared simultaneously

Project Samples

BRIG Example genome against > 20 other genomes

Complete genome sequences against E. coli O157:H7 Sakai

List of LEE genes compared with raw reads of genomes

read mapping coverage against E. coli O157:H7 Sakai

Project Activity

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License

GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3)

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User Reviews

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lewiswill Posted 2021-08-02

I think this software has potential but it is incredibly difficult to use. Downloading existing genomes in .fna format still does not yield the gene data as seen in the example dataset. Even when using the supplied data set, following the supplied user manual the data output is different to what is said in the user manual. Having used plenty of software in the past such as galaxy and R, I may not be an IT expert but this seems ridiculous. Not sure if bugs or me.. either way renders this software unusable.

Reply from BLAST Ring Image Generator

Edited 2026-02-23

Hi. I have pushed a v.1.0.0 release. Please try again and get in touch (email or on the github) if problems persist https://github.com/happykhan/BRIG
mv350 Posted 2016-06-27

so since I'm not allowed to write a ticket, I'm writing a review. I have a HUGE trouble using brig. the creation of multiple rings never work, I always have some missing, when I try to show my genomes one ring at a time, sometimes it works, sometime not, it seems quite random as the same strain will work at time t and not work at time t+1. There is no error message. It seems the software is just printing the rings just when it feels like it... As I see that there doesn't seem to be any support for this tool anymore (last update 2013, last reply to a user's request 2011...) does anybody has any suggestion of another software that might do similar plots ?

Reply from BLAST Ring Image Generator

Posted 2026-02-23

Hi. I have pushed a v.1.0.0 release. This should address issues with multiple rings.
thanhluan86tn Posted 2016-06-16

Always notice: contains a space. Invalid filename Could someone help me to solve this problem?

Reply from BLAST Ring Image Generator

Posted 2026-02-23

Hi. I have pushed a v.1.0.0 release. This should address issues with paths with spaces.
heidikira Posted 2016-05-02

I identified a bug, but could not fill out a bug report. If the files have the same name, but are in different folders, only the last file is used to generate the rings. Eg. If folderA/file.fa and folderB/file.fa are used to generate two rings, BRIG results will show two rings corresponding to folderB/file.fa. Otherwise, I think it's a pretty good tool. It would be nice if it was more compatible with support vector graphics programs for post-editting.

Reply from BLAST Ring Image Generator

Posted 2026-02-23

Hi. I have pushed a v.1.0.0 release. BRIg has support for SVG.
inahw Posted 2015-04-18

Hi I can't seem to create one of the trackers? I want to ask for support in using the program BRIG. I am new to the program but despite getting though to the configuration confirmation and the BLAST run finishing I am unable to find the image file that is supposed to be produced. All I find in the output file is the scratch folder containing .tab and .xml files (no JPEG or PNG files). I would be really grateful to have some help on the subject. Thank you Roseina

Reply from BLAST Ring Image Generator

Posted 2026-02-23

Hi. I have pushed a v.1.0.0 release. This should address issues with images not being produced.