annotate

This tool uses the label-tree function from HyPhy to annotate a phylogenetic tree. It allows users to select a subset of leaves using either a regular expression or a list of sequence names, and then apply a specified label to these selected branches. The tool also provides options for rerooting the tree, inverting the selection, and defining strategies for labeling internal and leaf nodes. This functionality is crucial for customizing tree visualizations and focusing on specific evolutionary ev

Dependencies & Environment

Package-intrinsic requirements from the Bioconductor landing page — reproduce in any R environment.

• Version: 1.90.0 · Bioconductor: 3.23 · R: ≥ 4.6
• Depends: AnnotationDbi, XML
• Imports: Biobase, DBI, xtable, BiocGenerics, httr
• System requirements: URL
• Install: BiocManager::install("annotate")

When to Use

• Annotating specific clades or lineages in pre-computed phylogenetic trees for visualization
• Marking monophyletic groups identified through external analysis
• Preparing trees for publication with labeled evolutionary groups
• Subsetting and labeling sequences based on taxonomic or functional criteria
• Creating customized tree visualizations with clade-specific annotations

When NOT to Use

• Initial phylogenetic tree construction (use phylogenetic inference tools instead)
• Sequence alignment or quality control
• Automated clade detection without prior knowledge (use clade detection algorithms)
• Large-scale batch annotation without scripting capability

Scientific Assumptions

• {'assumption': 'Input tree is in valid Newick format with properly formatted leaf node identifiers', 'violation_context': 'Malformed Newick syntax, special characters in node names, or inconsistent formatting will cause parsing errors or failed selection', 'quote': 'Input tree: The tree to annotate (Newick format)'}
• {'assumption': 'Leaf node names are consistent and match the regular expression or sequence list provided', 'violation_context': 'Typos, case sensitivity mismatches, or naming convention changes will result in failed or partial selection', 'quote': 'A regular expression or a list of sequence names to define the subset of leaves for annotation'}
• {'assumption': 'Tree topology is biologically meaningful and correctly inferred prior to annotation', 'violation_context': 'Errors in phylogenetic inference will propagate to annotation; tool does not validate tree quality'}
• {'assumption': 'Selected node for rerooting exists in the tree and is a valid internal or leaf node', 'violation_context': 'Invalid node specification will cause rerooting failure or unexpected tree structure', 'quote': "Reroot the tree on this node ('None' to skip rerooting)"}
• {'assumption': 'Labeling strategies (internal nodes, leaf nodes) are appropriate for the downstream analysis or visualization tool', 'violation_context': 'Incompatible labeling strategies may produce annotations that cannot be properly interpreted or visualized'}

Common Pitfalls

• {'mistake': 'Using incorrect regular expression syntax that fails to match intended leaf nodes', 'consequence': 'Annotation applied to wrong or no sequences; incorrect clade labeling', 'recommendation': "Test regular expressions against actual leaf node names in the Newick file; use simple patterns initially (e.g., 'species_name.*' for prefix matching)"}
• {'mistake': 'Applying conflicting labeling strategies to internal and leaf nodes without understanding the output structure', 'consequence': 'Ambiguous or redundant annotations; difficult tree interpretation', 'recommendation': "Clearly define labeling strategy based on analysis goals: use 'All descendants' for clade-level annotation, 'Some descendants' for specific subsets, or 'None' to avoid internal node labeling"}
• {'mistake': 'Rerooting tree on inappropriate node without understanding phylogenetic implications', 'consequence': 'Altered evolutionary relationships; misleading clade definitions', 'recommendation': 'Only reroot if necessary for analysis; ensure rerooting node is valid and biologically meaningful (e.g., outgroup placement)'}
• {'mistake': 'Inverting selection without verifying which sequences are actually selected', 'consequence': 'Labeling opposite clade than intended', 'recommendation': 'Verify selection before inversion; test with small subset first; review annotate report output'}

Key Parameters

• {'parameter': 'regular_expression', 'scientific_meaning': 'Pattern matching criterion to identify leaf nodes for annotation; enables flexible selection of sequences based on naming conventions', 'typical_values': "Species prefixes (e.g., 'Human.*'), taxonomic patterns (e.g., '.virus.'), or specific identifiers", 'context_guidance': {'scenario_clade_annotation': 'Use species or genus prefix patterns to mark monophyletic groups', 'scenario_functional_subset': 'Use functional category prefixes if sequences are named accordingly', 'scenario_single_sequence': 'Use exact name or unique identifier pattern'}, 'quote': 'Use the following regular expression to select a subset of leaves'}
• {'parameter': 'strategy_for_labeling_internal_nodes', 'scientific_meaning': 'Determines how internal nodes (representing ancestral lineages) are labeled when their descendants are selected; controls annotation granularity', 'typical_values': ['None: No internal node labeling', 'All descendants: Label all descendants of selected internal node', 'All descendants, no MRCA: Label descendants excluding most recent common ancestor', 'Some descendants: Label specific descendants', 'Parsimony: Label based on parsimony principle'], 'context_guidance': {'scenario_clade_definition': "Use 'All descendants' to mark entire monophyletic group", 'scenario_exclude_root': "Use 'All descendants, no MRCA' when MRCA should not be labeled", 'scenario_specific_lineages': "Use 'Some descendants' for partial clade annotation", 'scenario_minimal_annotation': "Use 'None' to label only leaf nodes"}, 'quote': 'Strategy for labeling internal nodes: None, All descendants, All descendants no MRCA, Some descendants, Parsimony'}
• {'parameter': 'strategy_for_labeling_selected_leaves', 'scientific_meaning': 'Controls whether selected leaf nodes receive the annotation label; determines if terminal taxa are explicitly marked', 'typical_values': ['Label: Apply specified label to selected leaf nodes', 'Skip: Do not label leaf nodes'], 'context_guidance': {'scenario_explicit_marking': "Use 'Label' when leaf-level annotation is important for visualization", 'scenario_clade_only': "Use 'Skip' when only clade (internal node) annotation is needed"}, 'quote': 'Strategy for labeling selected leaves: Label or Skip'}
• {'parameter': 'reroot_the_tree_on_this_node', 'scientific_meaning': 'Specifies node for tree rerooting; changes root position and affects branch length interpretation and evolutionary relationships', 'typical_values': "Valid node identifier from tree (typically outgroup or specific internal node); 'None' to skip rerooting", 'context_guidance': {'scenario_outgroup_rooting': 'Specify outgroup sequence name to establish correct evolutionary polarity', 'scenario_no_rerooting': "Use 'None' if tree is already correctly rooted"}, 'quote': "Reroot the tree on this node ('None' to skip rerooting)"}
• {'parameter': 'invert_selection', 'scientific_meaning': 'Reverses the selection logic; applies annotation to all sequences NOT matching the selection criterion', 'typical_values': 'Boolean (yes/no or true/false)', 'context_guidance': {'scenario_complement_set': 'Use when it is easier to define what to exclude than what to include', 'scenario_outgroup_marking': 'Use to mark all sequences except a specific clade'}, 'quote': 'Invert selection'}

Result Interpretation

• {'guidance': 'Examine the labeled tree output (Newick format) to verify that annotations were applied to correct nodes; check that branch labels match intended clade definitions', 'quote': 'Output: Labeled tree: A Newick file containing the annotated phylogenetic tree'}
• {'guidance': 'Review the Annotate Report (Markdown format) for summary of annotation operations; verify number of selected sequences and labeling strategy applied', 'quote': 'Annotate Report: A Markdown file with a summary of the analysis'}
• {'guidance': 'Validate that regular expression or sequence list correctly identified intended leaf nodes by cross-referencing report with original tree structure'}
• {'guidance': 'Confirm that rerooting (if applied) did not inadvertently alter evolutionary relationships or branch length interpretations'}

Alternatives

• {'tool': 'FigTree', 'when_to_prefer_this': 'Annotate tool preferred when programmatic/batch annotation of multiple trees is needed or when integration into analysis pipelines is required', 'when_to_prefer_alternative': 'FigTree preferred for interactive, GUI-based tree annotation and visualization with real-time editing'}
• {'tool': 'ETE Toolkit', 'when_to_prefer_this': 'Annotate tool preferred for pipeline integration; simpler interface for basic labeling tasks', 'when_to_prefer_alternative': 'ETE Toolkit preferred for complex programmatic tree manipulation, advanced visualization, and Python-based scripting'}
• {'tool': 'Dendroscope', 'when_to_prefer_this': 'Annotate tool preferred for automated batch processing and workflow integration', 'when_to_prefer_alternative': 'Dendroscope preferred for interactive visualization and manual clade annotation with advanced graphics'}

Citations

• {"pmid": "41317327", "doi": "10.1016/j.xpro.2025.104221", "title": "Protocol to annotate and automate single-cell instance segmentation on stimulated Raman histology using deep learning.", "authors": ["Bhattacharya A", "Landgraf E", "Jiang C", "Chowdury A", "Kondepudi A"], "journal": "STAR Protoc", "year": 2025, "abstract": null, "citation_count": null, "pub_type": "tool", "url": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41317327"}
• {'pmid': '41342577', 'doi': '10.1093/gigascience/giaf121', 'title': 'Toward a standardized framework for pangenome graph evaluation: assessing crop plant pangenome variation graph construction from multiple assemblies.', 'authors': ['Kopalli V', 'Arslan K', 'Morales-Díaz N', 'Zanini SF', 'Golicz AA'], 'journal': 'Gigascience', 'year': 2025, 'abstract': None, 'citation_count': None, 'pub_type': 'benchmark', 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41342577'}

References

<!-- biomate-cta -->

---

Run this on BioMate

This skill is the knowledge layer — when, why, and how to use annotate. To run this analysis on your own data with managed compute, automated QC, and reproducible outputs, use BioMate — free to start.

▶ Open annotate on BioMate →