def parse_matches(row):
    """ This helper function splits the peptide matches into a list of
        individual matches.
    """
    if row['num_matches'] == 0:
        return None
    
    peptide_matches = row['peptide_matches'].split(";")
    
    ret = [ 
        {'orf_id': row['orf_id'], 
         'orf_sequence': row['orf_sequence'],
         'peptide': peptide
        } 
        
    for peptide in peptide_matches ]
    
    return ret