A device (1) comprising an optical apparatus (2) for monitoring bacterial growth of a drug-dosed liquid biological sample. A sample container port for receiving a sample container (6), in use, is provided in the device, the sample container (6) having at least one detection chamber (20) for containing the drug-dosed sample. The optical apparatus (2) comprises a light source (22) configured to emit light along an incident beam axis that, in use, intersects with at least one detection chamber (20) of the sample container (6), and to illuminate the drug-dosed sample contained within the detection chamber (20). The optical apparatus (20) comprises a first photodetector (26) configured to receive light scattered by bacteria in the sample. The optical apparatus (2) comprises a light collection arrangement (24) configured to collect light exiting the detection chamber (20) that has been scattered in a forward direction by bacteria in the sample, in a range of scattering angles between about +/−4 and +/−20 degrees relative to the incident beam axis, and to direct the collected scattered light to the first photodetector (26); and prevent non-scattered light travelling parallel to the incident beam axis and exiting the detection chamber (20) from reaching the first photodetector (26). The optical apparatus (2) comprises at least one processor configured to: measure an intensity of the scattered light received by the first photodetector (26); determine a corresponding representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample based on the intensity of the scattered light; repeat the measuring and determining steps at a series of pre-determined intervals to determine changes in the representative amount or concentration of bacteria present in the sample as a function of time; and determine a corresponding susceptibility of the bacteria in the sample to the respective drug.

In order to quantitatively characterize biological objects, for example individual cells, a stimulus is applied to a biological object (8) in a contactless fashion. A measurement and a further measurement are performed on the biological object (8) in order to ascertain a response of the biological object (8) to the stimulus, wherein the measurement and the further measurement comprise detecting Raman scattering on and/or in the biological object (8) and/or capturing data using digital holographic microinterferometry (DHMI). The biological object (8) is characterized according to a result of the measurement and is sorted if needed. The stimulus can be applied by means of a laser beam that creates optical tweezers or an optical trap, by means of ultrasonic waves or an electric or magnetic radio frequency field.

A method for screening substances for their ability to reduce malodours from emanations from an animal, said method comprising determining the effect of said substances on the C-S lyase activity of bacteria that emit volatile sulphuric compounds (VSCs), by contacting a test substance with a sample comprising said bacteria or a supernatant obtainable from a culture of said bacteria in the presence of a substrate for a C-S lyase, detecting the levels of thiol production from said bacteria, and comparing the results with those obtained from similar bacteria in the absence of said substance.

The present disclosure provides modified bacteria and modified peptidoglycan comprising modified D-amino acids; compositions comprising the modified bacteria or peptidoglycan; and methods of using the modified bacteria or peptidoglycan. The modified D-amino acids include a bioorthogonal functional group such as an azide, an alkyne or a norbornene group. Also provided are modified peptidoglycans conjugated to a molecule of interest via a linker.

A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: (a) using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target in vitro or ex vivo cell population; (b) mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and (c) analysing said spectrometric data in order to identify and/or characterise said target cell population or one or more cells and/or compounds present in said target cell population.

Provided are a method for predicting a treatment response to cancer immunotherapy, the method comprising a step of evaluating, from feces isolated from a patient, the enrichment of a strain of the order TANB77 according to GTDB phylogenetic classification or taxa belonging to the order TANB77, and a step of predicting a treatment response of the patient to cancer immunotherapy on the basis of the enrichment of the order TANB77 or the taxa; a probiotics composition for improving a treatment response; a fecal microbiota transplantation composition; and a method for screening for candidate prebiotics by using same.

The present disclosure relates to diagnostic methods that are relevant to various cancers and which comprise BH3 profiling diagnostics for, among others, predication of an adverse patient response to a cancer treatment.

The present disclosure provides a method for screening, isolating and purifying analytes.

The present disclosure relates to a composition for screening an intestinal environment-improving material and a screening method using the composition, and according to the composition and the method of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an effective analysis method for screening a microbiota-improving candidate material in a personalized manner by providing a method for verifying personalized probiotics, prebiotics, foods, health functional foods and drugs under in vitro conditions based on microbiota and microbiota metabolites.

Disclosed herein is a quantitative screen for the assessment of microbiome derived drug metabolism. The disclosed quantitative screen, named MDMQ-Screen, may be employed, inter alia, for assessing the impact of the human gut microbiome on drug metabolism. MDMQ-Screen is used to measure and explain inter-individual variability in drug metabolism. This information is crucial in explaining potential toxic effects of the administered drugs, as well variability in response to therapy between individuals. Inter alia, MDMQ-Screen can be used to assess unexplained variability in drug response and toxicity of already used medications; used in future drug development pipelines to aid in the design and interpretation of clinical trials; and used at bedside to assess the probability of drug response and toxicity and provide recommendations for therapeutic modifications in a personalized medicine manner.