<p>Hi all, 
Does anyone know how to make database for compressed file fasta.gz using blast? I am using the blast2.2.29+. I saw the tutorial of makeblastdb, there is no option for dealing with the fasta.gz file. Does that mean I have to unzip the file first and then build database?</p>

<p>You should be able to uncompress the file then pipe the output to makeblastdb, without an intermediate file. The command would look something like:</p>

<pre><code>gunzip -c myfastafile.gz | makeblastdb -in stdin &lt;other options&gt;
</code></pre>

<p>or</p>

<pre><code>gunzip -c myfastafile.gz | makeblastdb -in - &lt;other options&gt;
</code></pre>
