<img src="docs/source/_static/ovo_diagram.png?raw=true" alt="OVO Overview" style="max-width:100%;">

OVO, an open-source ecosystem for de novo protein design

OVO (pronounced "oh-voh") consolidates models, workflows, data management, and interactive visualization into a scalable, high-performance, infrastructure-agnostic platform for de novo protein design. OVO features Nextflow-based workflow orchestration, a storage layer, and both command-line and web interfaces that democratize scaffold design, binder design and diversification, and validation workflows.

Ovo, an Open-Source Ecosystem for De Novo Protein Design, David Prihoda, Marco Ancona, Tereza Calounova, Adam Kral, Lukas Polak, Hugo Hrban, Nicholas J. Dickens, Danny Asher Bitton bioRxiv 2025.11.27.691041; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.11.27.691041

🐣 Getting started

To get started with OVO, please refer to the User Guide.

To preview the OVO web app (without the ability to submit jobs), see the OVO Demo Server.

▶️ Demo video

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/7b339fa6-c6de-467d-90d0-5cd15f83c498

🧬 Methods & Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the authors and developers of the following methods and tools available from OVO:

| Method Name | Description | Reference / Paper | Link | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | RFdiffusion | Diffusion-based protein structure generation | Watson et al. 2023 | GitHub | | ProteinMPNN | Protein sequence design for fixed backbones | Dauparas et al. 2022 | GitHub | | LigandMPNN | Atomic context-conditioned protein sequence design | Dauparas et al. 2025 | GitHub | | PyRosetta FastRelax | Binder sequence design protocol | Bennett et al. 2023 | GitHub | | AlphaFold2 / ColabDesign | Deep learning-based protein structure prediction | Jumper et al. 2021 | GitHub (AlphaFold2), GitHub (ColabDesign) | | BindCraft | Binder design using AF2 backpropagation | Pacesa et al. 2024 | GitHub | | Boltz | Deep learning-based protein structure prediction | Wohlwend et al. 2024, Passaro et al. 2025 | GitHub | | ESM-1v | Protein language model for variant effect | Meier et al. 2021 | GitHub | | ESM-IF | Inverse folding with protein language models | Hsu et al. 2022 | GitHub | | DSSP | Secondary structure assignment | Kabsch & Sander 1983, Joosten et al. 2010 | GitHub | | PEP-Patch | Protein surface patches analysis | Kufareva et al. 2023 | GitHub | | Protein-Sol | Protein solubility prediction | Hebditch et al. 2017 | Web

🛠️ Development

OVO is an open-source project and we welcome contributions from the community.

Please refer to the Developer Guide for information on how to contribute to OVO.