Whole genome sequence of Vibrio cholerae NB-183 isolated from freshwater in Ontario, Canada harbors a unique gene repertoire.

OBJECTIVE: Vibrio cholerae is an enteric pathogen that poses a significant threat to global health. It causes severe dehydrating diarrheal disease cholera in humans. V. cholerae could be acquired either from consuming contaminated seafood or direct contact with polluted waters. As part of a larger program that assesses the microbial community profile in aquatic systems, V. cholerae strain NB-183 was isolated and characterized using a combination of culture- and whole-genome sequencing-based approaches. DATA DESCRIPTION: Here we report the assembled and annotated whole-genome sequence of a V. cholerae strain NB-183 isolated from a recreational freshwater lake in Ontario, Canada. The genome was sequenced using short-read Illumina systems. The whole-genome sequencing yielded 4,112,549 bp genome size with 99 contigs with an average genome coverage of 96× and 47.42% G + C content. The whole genome-based comparison, phylogenomic and gene repertoire indicates that this strain harbors multiple virulence genes and biosynthetic gene clusters. This genome sequence and its associated datasets provided in this study will be an indispensable resource to enhance the understanding of the functional, ecological, and evolutionary dynamics of V. cholerae.

Draft Genome Sequence of Exiguobacterium sp. Strain N5, Isolated from a Recreational Freshwater Kettle Lake in Ontario.

Exiguobacterium spp. are facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive, non-spore-forming bacilli, reported to tolerate extreme environments. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Exiguobacterium sp. strain N5, isolated from a recreational freshwater lake.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus anthracis N1, Isolated from a Recreational Freshwater Kettle Lake in Ontario, Canada.

Bacillus anthracis is widespread in soil and a causative agent of anthrax, primarily in herbivores. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Bacillus anthracis strain N1, which was isolated from a recreational freshwater lake and found to carry multiple antibiotic resistance genes and biosynthetic gene clusters.

Therapeutic Effects of Meditation, Yoga, and Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Chronic Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) vary greatly and are difficult to treat; we investigate the impact of meditation, yoga, and mindfulness-based interventions on this treatment group. METHOD: Search included four databases, allowing studies of any design containing pre/post outcomes for meditation, yoga, or mindfulness-based interventions in people suffering from brain injury acquired by mechanical force. Analyses used robust variance estimation to assess overall effects and random-effects models for selected outcomes; we evaluated both between- and within-group changes. RESULTS: Twenty studies (N = 539) were included. Results revealed significant improvement of overall symptoms compared to controls (d = 0.41; 95% CI [0.04, 0.77]; τ2  = 0.06), with significant within-group improvements in mental health (d = 0.39), physical health (d = 0.39), cognitive performance (d = 0.24), quality of life (d = 0.39), and self-related processing (d = 0.38). Symptoms showing greatest improvement were fatigue (d = 0.96) and depression (d = 0.40). Findings were homogeneous across studies. Study quality concerns include lack of randomisation, blinding, and recording of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This first-ever meta-analysis on meditation, yoga, and mindfulness-based interventions for chronic symptoms of mTBI offers hope but highlights the need for rigorous new trials to advance clinical applications and to explore mechanistic pathways.