Virus

Gut microbiome: meet Bilophila wadsworthia – a microbe that’s both friend and foe

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024

Hydrogen sulfide is the gas responsible for the rotten-egg odour that you come across near stagnant water and in drains.

Key Points: 
  • Hydrogen sulfide is the gas responsible for the rotten-egg odour that you come across near stagnant water and in drains.
  • Bilophila wadsworthia is one such species of these bacteria.
  • The bacteria that break down sulfur-containing organic matter and produce hydrogen sulfide are fittingly called sulfate-reducing bacteria.
  • Sulfate-reducing bacteria are an important part of the normal human gut microbiome, and small amounts of hydrogen sulfide are required in the human gut environment.
  • Bilophila wadsworthia was discovered in the 1980s, when it was found in people who had severe appendicitis.
  • The researchers found that it grew really well in bile, which is why the genus name is Bilophila (meaning bile loving).
  • Since then, research has associated Bilophila wadsworthia with negative effects in the gut.
  • It’s not clear how or why expansion of Bilophila wadsworthia can occur in the gut.


Jade Davies receives funding from UKRI via the BBSRC as part of the Norwich Research Park Doctoral Training Partnership (grant no. BB/M011216/1).

Bacteria in your gut can improve your mood − new research in mice tries to zero in on the crucial strains

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

But can they improve your mood, too?

Key Points: 
  • But can they improve your mood, too?
  • But the short answer, according to my team’s recently published research, is likely yes.
  • The beneficial bacteria in probiotics become part of a community of other microscopic organisms living in your digestive system called the gut microbiome.

Studying mood in mice

  • So how do you measure the mood of mice?
  • We exposed them to poop from either stressed mice or normal mice by sprinkling soiled bedding in their enclosures.
  • Microbes from the donor mice started to populate the gut microbiomes of the clean mice.
  • Within a few weeks, the clean mice exposed to poop from stressed mice started to develop stress- and anxiety-like behavior, even though nothing else had changed.

Which bacteria affect mood?

  • The results of our experiments led us back to our original question: Which bacteria can change your mood?
  • In our analysis, we found that a group of bacteria called Lactobacillus was greatly reduced in the stressed mice.
  • So we had to come up with a way to test how different strains affect anxious behavior.
  • Instead of tackling this colossal task alone, we created a method that other microbiome scientists can also use to look at this group of bacteria as systematically as possible.
  • To recreate the same experimental conditions for each species of microbe, we created a group of mice with only six species of bacteria in their microbiome, the bare minimum needed for normal and healthy development, which did not include Lactobacillus.

What’s next?

  • We hope that our research will open avenues for other scientists to test different probiotics.
  • In the meantime, give the Lactobacillus in your gut some love through a healthy, probiotics-rich diet.


Andrea Merchak has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (T32 NS115657, F31 AI174782).

Recycling Water Filtration Market worth $3.8 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Based on product type, the Recycling Water Filtration Market has been segmented into sand filters, multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, and membrane filters.

Key Points: 
  • Based on product type, the Recycling Water Filtration Market has been segmented into sand filters, multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, and membrane filters.
  • This report segments the Recycling Water Filtration Market based on membrane type into ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, microfiltration and reverse osmosis.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest Recycling Water Filtration Market during the forecast period.
  • The Recycling Water Filtration Market is flourishing in the Asia Pacific due to the pressing need for sustainable water management.

Recycling Water Filtration Market worth $3.8 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Based on product type, the Recycling Water Filtration Market has been segmented into sand filters, multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, and membrane filters.

Key Points: 
  • Based on product type, the Recycling Water Filtration Market has been segmented into sand filters, multimedia filters, activated carbon filters, and membrane filters.
  • This report segments the Recycling Water Filtration Market based on membrane type into ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, microfiltration and reverse osmosis.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest Recycling Water Filtration Market during the forecast period.
  • The Recycling Water Filtration Market is flourishing in the Asia Pacific due to the pressing need for sustainable water management.

Aethlon Medical Announces Fiscal Third Quarter Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2023 and provided an update on recent developments. 

Key Points: 
  • ET
    SAN DIEGO, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aethlon Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: AEMD), a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2023 and provided an update on recent developments.
  • "While our research and development team has started to quantify our internal data, the results, to date, are inconclusive.
  • Financial Results for the Third Quarter Ended December 31, 2023
    As of December 31, 2023, Aethlon Medical had a cash balance of approximately $8.0 million.
  • ET to review its financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2023 and recent corporate developments.

ALLOVIR, INC. (NASDAQ: ALVR) DEADLINE ALERT: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reminds Investors of the Deadline to File a Lead Plaintiff Motion in a Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against AlloVir, Inc.

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

If you purchased or acquired AlloVir securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit AlloVir, Inc.

Key Points: 
  • If you purchased or acquired AlloVir securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit AlloVir, Inc.
  • If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 19, 2024.
  • A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
  • The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414.

Zoetis Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

(NYSE: ZTS) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 as well as provided full year guidance for 2024.

Key Points: 
  • (NYSE: ZTS) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 as well as provided full year guidance for 2024.
  • The company reported revenue of $2.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2023, which was an increase of 8% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022, on both a reported and operational1 basis.
  • In the fourth quarter of 2023:
    Revenue in the U.S. segment was $1.2 billion, an increase of 9% compared with the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Zoetis will host a webcast and conference call at 8:30 a.m. (ET) today, during which company executives will review fourth quarter and full year 2023 results, discuss financial guidance and respond to questions from financial analysts.

ALLOVIR INVESTOR ALERT: Kirby McInerney LLP Notifies AlloVir, Inc. (ALVR) Investors of Upcoming Lead Plaintiff Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

Investors have until March 19, 2024 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.

Key Points: 
  • Investors have until March 19, 2024 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
  • In March 2022, AlloVir initiated global phase 3 registrational studies of its lead product posoleucel for the prevention of life-threatening viral infections from viruses in high-risk, allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant patients (the “posoleucel Phase 3 Studies”).
  • Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs’ law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation.
  • Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s website: https://www.kmllp.com .

AI is everywhere – including countless applications you’ve likely never heard of

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

Right now, generative AI in particular – tools like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Gemini (previously Bard) and others – is at the peak of hype.

Key Points: 
  • Right now, generative AI in particular – tools like Midjourney, ChatGPT, Gemini (previously Bard) and others – is at the peak of hype.
  • But as an academic discipline, AI has been around for much longer than just the last couple of years.
  • Here’s a rundown of some of the wide-ranging AI applications you may be less familiar with.

AI in healthcare

  • Various AI systems are already being used in the health field, both to improve patient outcomes and to advance health research.
  • For example, AI is helping researchers comb through vast genetic data libraries.
  • AI is also helping to speed up the search for medical treatments.

The hidden AIs

  • Last year, astronomers used an AI algorithm for the first time to identify a “potentially hazardous” asteroid – a space rock that might one day collide with Earth.
  • This algorithm will be a core part of the operations of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory currently under construction in Chile.
  • Robot vacuum cleaners use AI software to process all their sensor inputs and deftly navigate our homes.
  • Of course, there is also no shortage of more quirky AI applications.
  • A few years ago, UK-based brewery startup IntelligentX used AI to make custom beers for its customers.

AI can also be weaponised

  • For example, some experts have warned AI can aid the creation of bioweapons.
  • Where active warfare is taking place, military powers can design warfare scenarios and plans using AI.
  • Much has also been said about how generative AI is supercharging people’s abilities to produce fake news and disinformation.
  • This way we can reap the many benefits of AI while making sure we stay ahead of the risks.


Niusha Shafiabady does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Reminds Shareholders with Losses on their Investment in AlloVir, Inc. of Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadlines – ALVR

Retrieved on: 
Sunday, February 11, 2024

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against AlloVir, Inc. (“AlloVir” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ALVR).

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against AlloVir, Inc. (“AlloVir” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ALVR).
  • To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext.
  • Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
  • Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions.