Linda Stewart
News and Current Affairs Editor
Linda studied Pure & Applied Biology BA at St Anne’s College, Oxford, before completing an MSc in Conservation at UCL. After two years in a Water Service lab in Northern Ireland, she switched to a career in newspaper journalism, working as a general reporter at the Belfast Telegraph before becoming the regional daily’s first Environment Correspondent from 2008 until 2016. She was named Environment Correspondent of the Year 2011 and Feature Journalist of the Year in 2014 at the NI Media Awards. After serving as editor on a number of retail sector magazines, she is enjoying turning her journalism skills to delivering fresh and fascinating scientific news content in The Microbiologist.
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NewsSymptoms of long-COVID can last up to two years after infection with COVID-19
According to a study of the COVICAT cohort, almost one in four people infected with SARS-CoV-2 suffered from long-COVID. In more than half of them the symptoms persisted for two years.
NewsUltra-low dose CT aids pneumonia diagnosis in immunocompromised patients
Denoised ultra-low dose CT can effectively diagnose pneumonia in immunocompromised patients using only 2% of the radiation dose of standard CT, according to a study.
NewsBacteria key to solar-powered method to convert sewage sludge into green hydrogen and animal feed
Scientists have developed an innovative solar-powered method to transform sewage sludge — a by-product of wastewater treatment — into green hydrogen for clean energy and single-cell protein for animal feed.
NewsScientists explain energy transfer mechanism in chloroplasts and its evolution
A recent study by Chinese scientists has revealed the intricate molecular machinery driving energy exchange within chloroplasts, shedding light on a key event in the evolution of plant life.
NewsProfessor investigates how symbiotic groups - like corals and biofilms - can behave like single organisms
UNCG philosopher of biology Dr. Derek Skillings is the lead investigator on a new, three-year, $600,000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a study of the emergence and evolution of goal-directed behavior in collective entities.
NewsFood systems, climate change, and air pollution: Unveiling the interactions and solutions
A recent review delves into the complex relationships among food systems, climate change, and air pollution, highlighting the need for sustainable strategies to address these interconnected global challenges.
News‘Overlooked’ scrub typhus may affect 1 in 10 in rural India
A study of over 32,000 people living in Tamil Nadu, India, suggests scrub typhus infection may affect up to 10% of rural populations annually and is a leading yet under-recognised cause of hospitalisations for fever across India.
NewsCause of post-COVID inflammatory shock in children identified
MIS-C is a serious inflammatory shock that affects children and can occur several weeks after a COVID infection. Researchers have found that reactivation of a pre-existing, dormant infection with the Epstein-Barr virus triggers an excessive inflammatory response.
NewsClimate affects microbial life around Antarctica
Bacteria and other microbes in the seas around Antarctica are strongly influenced by water temperature and the amount of sea ice. This is shown by coordinated measurements taken off the coast of the west Antarctic Peninsula, scientists say.
NewsStudy reveals complex interaction between plants and root microbiota in nutrient utilization
The root microbiota has a profound impact on plant growth and development, health, and adaptability to the environment. So, do the plants also have effects on the root microbiota, and if so, how do the two interact with each other?
NewsMeasles on the rise again in Europe: Time to check your vaccination status
Eight out of ten people who were diagnosed with measles in the EU/EEA in the last year were not vaccinated, according to a new measles and rubella update.
NewsResearchers announce breakthrough in next-generation polio vaccines
Researchers have taken a major step towards producing a more affordable and lower-risk polio vaccine using virus-like particles (VLPs). These particles mimic the outer protein shell of poliovirus, but are empty inside.
NewsPresence of potentially toxic microalgae confirmed in La Concha Bay
The proliferation of the Ostreopsis ovata algae is no cause for alarm, but it is advisable to continue taking measurements, according to researchers.
NewsMeningococcal vaccine found to be safe and effective for infants in sub-Saharan Africa
A new global health study found a vaccine that protects against five strains of meningitis prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa is safe and effective for use in young children beginning at 9 months of age.
NewsSwRI receives $3 million NASA astrobiology grant to study microbial life in Alaska’s arctic sand dunes
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has received a three-year, $2,999,998 million grant from NASA to identify and characterize life and its biosignatures in frozen sand dunes in Alaska, under conditions similar to dune fields on early Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan.
NewsNew study highlights gaps in HPV-related cancer prevention for people living with HIV
A new study reveals gaps in knowledge surrounding the prevention of HPV-related cancers in people living with HIV and outlines future research priorities. It highlights existing disparities in healthcare for this vulnerable population.
NewsClove oil yields new Pickering emulsion formulation with enhanced antibacterial properties
Researchers developed a sustainable Pickering emulsion using carbon quantum dots (CQDs), promising solid particles for food applications, derived from clove essential oil residue. They found that CQDs with 40% ethanol demonstrated the highest emulsifying efficacy.
NewsMulti-dose vaccines administered in the same site boost immune response
New research suggests that receiving multiple doses of a vaccine in the same limb leads to faster antibody development, an important strategy for providing immunity as quickly as possible during a pandemic or disease outbreak.
NewsIntranasal herpes infection may produce neurobehavioral symptoms, study finds
A new study finds that herpes infection through the nose can lead to anxiety, motor impairment and cognitive issues. The research is the first to show that, by exploiting a cellular enzyme, the virus can produce behavioral symptoms.
NewsCircadian rhythms in tea plant microbiomes shed light on nutrient cycling
A groundbreaking study has uncovered a fascinating connection between the circadian rhythms of tea plants and the microbial communities in their rhizosphere, providing new insights into nutrient cycling.