platform for quick overview of short reads before assembly

[morning latte]

Hello all,

Could you recommend any platform (server) that I can import my short reads (100bp paired-end from Illumina) before assembly or even QC to get some idea who are there? I heard that MG-RAST is one of the options. I appreciate for your answers in advance.

[winsettz]

There's metaphlan and phytophlan (from the Huttenhower lab) if you're interested in taxonomy. BLASTX if you're interested in what proteins might be there.

MG-RAST is also fairly good, and should be more robust in taxonomic calls than metaphlan and phytophlan.

[morning latte]

Thanks a lot.