1. About the CARD, ARO, and RGI

The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database ("CARD") provides data, models, and algorithms relating to the molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance. The CARD provides curated reference sequences and SNPs organized via the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology ("ARO"). These data can be browsed on the website or downloaded in a number of formats. These data are additionally associated with detection models, in the form of curated homology cut-offs and SNP maps, for prediction of resistome from molecular sequences. These models can be downloaded or can be used for analysis of genome sequences using the Resistance Gene Identifier ("RGI"), either online or as a stand-alone tool.

The CARD was designed and developed by the laboratories of Drs. Andrew G. McArthur and Gerry Wright of McMaster University's (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and Global Nexus for Pandemics and Biological Threats, with the help of a global team of collaborators. It is built entirely using open source software and tools. This research has been supported by funds from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Medical Research Council (UK), Genome Canada, and the Ontario Research Fund.

CARD: Expert-curated collection of molecular sequences and mutations underlying AMR, organized by the Antibiotic Resistance Ontology. RGI: Prediction of complete resistome from genomic and metagenomic data. Resistomes & Variants: Pre-compiled resistomes, allelic variants, and AMR gene prevalence data for priority pathogens. Annotation Services: Have the CARD team annotate your genomic data. Hosting Services: Host your own genome sequence collections on the CARD website, private & password-secure, with annotation constantly updated by RGI. Bait Capture: Hybridization bait enrichment of AMR alleles for your metagenomic sequencing projects.

2. Trade Marks and Official Marks

All trade marks used or displayed on this website are registered or unregistered trade marks or official marks of McMaster University. Nothing on this website should be interpreted to grant any license to use any trade mark or official mark without the express written permission of McMaster University.

Registered Trademarks:

• CARD
• Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database
• CARD Design

3. Copyright and Discliamer

All of the materials on this website, including but not limited to the CARD, the RGI, and the underlying HTML, text, illustration, designs, icons, audio clips, video clips, documents, products, software and all other content (the "Materials") are protected by copyright and are either owned by McMaster University, provided by the creator for free use by the scientific community, or McMaster University has obtained a license to use the Materials for their website. Except as noted in the Terms of Use below, specifically sections 4 and 5 below, none of the Materials may be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of McMaster University, or the original creator, where applicable.

The only exception is distribution of the Resistance Gene Identifier software on the Conda open source, cross-platform, language-agnostic package manager and environment management system (https://conda.io/). Conda users are still required to abide by the Terms of Use listed, specifically sections 4 and 5 below.

To obtain permission to reproduce material on the McMaster University website, please send a request to:

McMaster University
c/o McMaster Industry Liaison Office
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4. Terms of Use for Academic, Government, or Non-Profit Reproduction

All information and the Materials on this site has been posted to provide the public with direct access to information about Antibiotic Resistance. The information and the Materials have been posted with the intent that it be readily available for personal and public non-commercial, research or academic use by individuals at academic, government, or non-profit institutions only and except where otherwise prohibited, may be reproduced, in part or in whole and by any means, without charge or further permission from McMaster University. Any other organization must seek to obtain a license described in section 5 below.

We only ask that:

• The Materials not be modified and used "as is"
• Users exercise due diligence in ensuring the accuracy of the Materials
• McMaster University be identified as the source of the Materials
• The reproduction is not represented as an official version of the Materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with or without the endorsement of McMaster University

5. Terms of Use for Commercial Organizations

Use or reproduction of Materials on the site, in whole or in part, by any commercial organization whether or not for non-commercial (including research) or commercial purposes is prohibited, except with written permission of McMaster University. Commercial uses of the Materials on the site are offered only pursuant to a written license and user fee. To obtain permission and begin the licensing process, please contact McMaster University using the address in section 3.

Exception: Ontologies at the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database are freely available under the Creative Commons CC-BY license version 4.0

6. Disclaimer

The Materials on this site are provided "as is" without warranties or conditions of any kind either expressed or implied. To the fullest extent possible under applicable law, McMaster University disclaims all warranties and conditions, expressed or implied, including but not limited to, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement or other violation of rights. McMaster University does not warrant or make any other representations regarding the use, accuracy, timelines, applicability, performance, security, availability or reliability of this website or any of the sites linked to this website, or the results from the use of this website or any sites linked to this website, or otherwise respecting the Materials on this website or any sites linked to this website.

7. Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances, including but not limited to negligence, shall McMaster University be liable for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of, or the inability to use, the website or the Materials.