VirtualFlyBrain — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
MCP server linking assistants to Virtual Fly Brain neuroanatomy, connectomics, and gene expression records for Drosophila melanogaster.
claude mcp add --transport http vfb3-mcp https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.orgWhat VirtualFlyBrain does
The server exposes Drosophila brain data directly to AI assistants. It retrieves neuron metadata, queries structural terms, and maps FlyBase drivers or split-GAL4 lines to canonical identifiers without manual lookup.
Integration tools query synaptic wiring across Hemibrain and FAFB connectome datasets. The server fetches predicted or curated neurotransmitters for specific cell types and traverses ontology graphs using subclass_of or part_of relationships.
Hosted remotely at https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.org, the endpoint operates statelessly. You do not need API tokens or accounts to query it.
What it helps with
- inspect synaptic connections across Hemibrain and FAFB datasets
- resolve split-GAL4 lines and FlyBase symbols into VFB entities
- retrieve curated and predicted neurotransmitters for neuron classes
- traverse fruit fly anatomy hierarchies along
part_ofaxes
Example prompts for the agent
- Look up connectivity for neuron VFB_00101567 in the adult brain
- Find all sensory neurons terminating in the antennal lobe
- Resolve the split-GAL4 combination and show its target components
How to install VirtualFlyBrain
Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http vfb3-mcp https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.orgPlatform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add virtualflybrain --url https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.orgConfig file
{
"mcpServers": {
"virtualflybrain": {
"url": "https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.org"
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"virtualflybrain": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.org"
}
}
}Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http virtualflybrain https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.orgStep by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about VirtualFlyBrain
How do I install VirtualFlyBrain in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add --transport http virtualflybrain https://vfb3-mcp.virtualflybrain.org in your terminal. This attaches the remote HTTP service immediately.
What datasets does the connectivity tool query?
The server interfaces with Drosophila connectomes including Hemibrain and FAFB. Assistants can filter incoming or outgoing synaptic partners across these releases.
Is an API key required to access the service?
No registration or secret key is necessary. The public HTTP instance responds to standard MCP tool calls directly.
