New laboratory research shows that when viruses attack a species that forms toxic algal blooms, those thick, blue-green slicks that choke waterways and that threaten ecosystems, drinking water, and public health, what results might be even worse than before the infection. The finding questions the long-held theory among scientists that the viruses help regulate the negative effects of these blooms.  

A team of environmental microbiologists led by Dr. Jozef Nissimov, a professor at the University of Waterloo, has shown for the first time experimentally that when viruses infect and kill Microcystis aeruginosa, a common species responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs), they cause the release of high levels of the toxin microcystin-LR into the water from the infected cells.  

The Exposome Moonshot Forum will take place May 12th to 15th in the heart of Washington, DC. This highly participatory, impact-driven, multi-stakeholder forum will consider issues and opportunities surrounding data protection, AI integrations, and multi-national representation to build an effective and ethically informed launchpad for the Human Exposome. The Human Exposome, a counterpart to the Human Genome Project, uses precision analytics, predictive environmental data, and biometrics to understand the impact of lived environment on individual health profiles and outcomes. This once-in-a-generation endeavor will revolutionize the way we understand and address public health challenges, offering highly precise health profiles that consider every individual’s lived experience and local context.