# BUSCO error: refseq db not found

**URL:** <https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/busco-error-refseq-db-not-found/16328>\
**Category:** usegalaxy.org support\
**Tags:** genome-annotation, resources, tool-help, busco\
**Created:** [October 1, 2025, 8:21am UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/busco-error-refseq-db-not-found/16328 "2025-10-01T08:21:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 8

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**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 6:41pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/busco-error-refseq-db-not-found/16328/8 "2025-12-10T18:41:34Z")

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Welcome @sophiaescobar !!

I just checked the data at [UseGalaxy.org](http://UseGalaxy.org) and everything was working as expected. The [UseGalaxy.org.au](http://UseGalaxy.org.au) server should be using this same data through a shared CVMFS repository.

Shared history: [https://usegalaxy.org/u/jen-galaxyproject/h/test-busco-2025-01](https://usegalaxy.org/u/jen-galaxyproject/h/test-busco-2025-01)

Screenshot of some of the test jobs with parameters tagged (you can explore the shared history for exact details).

Important keys: please notice how the **Select a gene predictor** must be set to **metaeuk** to allow the selection of the **bacterial** lineage. All prokaryotic lineages will require this same gene predictor.

For eukaryotic, you can use either of the predictors.

 ![test-busco-2025-1-dataset-14-metaeuk-for-bacterial](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/3/3640607a46f719d91e4d5643f975d25dedd1d480.jpeg)  
\[1\]

This is a good question so I’m glad you asked again, and I understand your point about suspecting that the gene predictor setting is unexpectedly specific!

But this is known and intentional for now – at the UseGalaxy public servers, the computed indexes for prokaryotic genomes are only available for use with the metaeuk option. This leads to **Prodigal** being used (technically!). Bacterial lineage index for miniprot are not available at this time.

 ![busco-5.8.0-galaxy1-tool-form-gene-predictor-parameter](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/c/c45addb69687a24e5214fdce66aec8251ad5cb62.png)  
\[2\]

The tool is a bit complicated with all of the options and the comprehensive indexes! Hopefully this explains what is going on.. but does this actually help?

* * *

1. Screenshot from the shared history, with the history panel’s datasets displayed, and the rerun form for dataset 14 shown. 

2. Screenshot from the Busco 5.8.0+galaxy1 tool form showing option Select a gene predictor. Tool tip: In the case of a prokaryotic genome, Prodigal is the default gene predictor.

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_[View the full topic](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/busco-error-refseq-db-not-found/16328)._