Trips-Viz (https://trips.ucc.ie/) is an interactive platform for the analysis and visualization of ribosome profiling (Ribo-Seq) and shotgun RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. This includes publicly available and user generated data, hence Trips-Viz can be classified as a database and as a server. As a database it provides access to many processed Ribo-Seq and RNA-seq data aligned to reference transcriptomes which has been expanded considerably since its inception. Here, we focus on the server functionality of Trips-viz which also has been greatly improved. Trips-viz now enables visualisation of proteomics data from a large number of processed mass spectrometry datasets. It can be used to support translation inferred from Ribo-Seq data. Users are now able to upload a custom reference transcriptome as well as data types other than Ribo-Seq/RNA-Seq. Incorporating custom data has been streamlined with RiboGalaxy (https://ribogalaxy.ucc.ie/) integration. The other new functionality is the rapid detection of translated open reading frames (ORFs) through a simple easy to use interface. The analysis of differential expression has been also improved via integration of DESeq2 and Anota2seq in addition to a number of other improvements of existing Trips-viz features.

Rhizobium nitrogen-fixing bacteria are a well studied microorganism family in the scientific community and it's effects have been investigated thoroughly since its initial identification. This study aimed to research further the interactions of this bacteria with members of non-legume plant families, i.e. the poaceae grass species. This multi-year experimental series focuses on the germination stage of these plants, with varying treatments being applied to the seeds pre-germination in order to first test for a quantifiable effect taking place, and later to characterise the mechanism due to which an effect was noted. The identifier used to establish the presence of an effect was the germination rate of the seeds, which was found by examining the testa of each seed for the emergence of a radicle or plumule. Approximately 15,000 samples were tested during this process, the results of which were subsequently statistically analysed at a 95% confidence level. A conclusive increase of 40% (p<0.0001) was noted in the germination of barley seeds when treated with R. leguminosarum. Following tests which confirmed increase enzymatic activity, tests using a different bacterium (A. tumefaciens) and further review of existing literature, it was deemed likely that this effect was due to the release of lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) by the bacteria. It has been established that synthetically isolated LCO's can positively effect barley germination. It is believed that this is the first time it has been demonstrated that free Rhizobium bacteria in suspension can stimulate faster germination in the poaceae species due to the natural release of LCO's by the bacteria.