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Motivation: We have created EcoPLOT (parameterized linkage of omics-driven technologies), a web-app for the dynamic, interactive analysis of biogeochemical datasets that combines state-of-the-art analysis tools to statistically and graphically explore environmental, geochemical and microbiome datasets. Using the iterative random forest, a machine learning algorithm, EcoPLOT allows for the de novo discovery of drivers which exhibit significant impact on plant, microbial or soil dynamics., Availability and Implementation: EcoPLOT is built entirely within the R language. It can be accessed through any system where R is installed, including Windows, Mac and most Linux systems. EcoPLOT is free to use and can be accessed at https://github.com/cdsanchez18/EcoPLOT., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common bacterial cause of foodborne diarrheal disease worldwide and is among the antimicrobial resistant "priority pathogens" that pose greatest threat to public health. The genomes of two C. jejuni isolated from poultry meat sold on the retail market in Southern Brazil phenotypically characterized as multidrug-resistant (CJ100) and susceptible (CJ104) were sequenced and analyzed by bioinformatic tools. The isolates CJ100 and CJ104 showed distinct multilocus sequence types (MLST). Comparative genomic analysis revealed a large number of single nucleotide polymorphisms, rearrangements, and inversions in both genomes, in addition to virulence factors, genomic islands, prophage sequences, and insertion sequences. A circular 103-kilobase megaplasmid carrying virulence factors was identified in the genome of CJ100, in addition to resistance mechanisms to aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, macrolides, quinolones, and tetracyclines. The molecular characterization of distinct phenotypes of foodborne C. jejuni and the discovery of a novel virulence megaplasmid provide useful data for pan-genome and large-scale studies to monitor the virulent C. jejuni in poultry meat is warranted.

The Xanthomonas genus, comprises more than 30 species of gram-negative bacteria, most of which are pathogens of plants with high economic value, such as rice, common bean, and maize. Transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs), which act by regulating the host gene expression, are some of the major virulence factors of these bacteria. We present a novel tool to identify TALE genes in the genome of Xanthomonas strains and their respective targets. The analysis of the results obtained by TargeTALE in a proof-of-concept validation demonstrate that, at optimum setting, approximately 93% of the predicted target genes with available expression data were confirmed as upregulated during the infection, indicating that the tool might be useful for researchers in the field.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with more than 270 million participants. It is characterized by repetition of short and intense actions that require high-coordination capacity. It is a sport where interactions with other players put the athletes at risk for traumatic injuries. Lower-limb injuries are the most prevalent injuries in soccer. Spine injuries are less frequent; however, they can impose serious and debilitating sequelae on the athlete. These injuries can be associated with long recovery periods preventing return to play. Moreover, specific repetitive activities (heading, kicking, etc.) can lead to chronic injuries. The cervical spine is particularly at risk for degenerative changes. Considerations for when an athlete should undergo spinal surgery and the timing of return to play present a difficult challenge to spine specialists. The objective of this article is to review the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of spinal injuries in soccer.

BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. It is caused by infection with pathogenic Leptospira species, of which over 300 serovars have been described. The accurate identification of the causative Leptospira spp. is required to ascertain the pathogenic status of the local isolates. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to obtain the complete genome sequence of a virulent Leptospira interrogans strain isolated from southern Brazil and to describe its genetic features. METHODS The whole genome was sequenced by next-generation sequencing (Ion Torrent). The genome was assembled, scaffolded, annotated, and manually reviewed. Mutations were identified based on a variant calling analysis using the genome of L. interrogans strain Fiocruz L1-130 as a reference. FINDINGS The entire genome had an average GC content of 35%. The variant calling analysis identified 119 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), from which 30 led to a missense mutation. The structural analyses identified potential evidence of genomic inversions, translocations, and deletions in both the chromosomes. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The genome properties provide comprehensive information about the local isolates of Leptospira spp., and thereby, could facilitate the identification of new targets for the development of diagnostic kits and vaccines.