All articles by Linda Stewart – Page 59
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CareersSummer studentship: Owen investigates how fungal hyphae interact with lung cells
Owen Nicholson reports back on his AMI-sponsored summer studentship which investigated the role of Piezo1 in the immune response during fungal invasion of the human lung at the University of East Anglia.
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NewsAfter injuries, carpenter ants use amputation to stop potential infections from spreading
Carpenter ants are not squeamish when it comes to caring for the wounded. To minimise the risk of infection, the insects immediately amputate injured legs – thereby more than doubling their survival rate.
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NewsBay Area Lyme Foundation opens applications for 2026 Emerging Leader Awards and research grants
Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, has announced its call for applicants from academia and the private sector for the 2026 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA).
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NewsAI tool beats humans at detecting parasites in stool samples, study finds
Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that detects intestinal parasites in stool samples more quickly and accurately than traditional methods, potentially transforming how labs diagnose parasitic infections around the world.
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NewsUnderwater thermal vents may have given rise to the first molecular precursors of life
A new study shows that, without the presence of enzymes, natural gradients of pH, redox potential, and temperature present in underwater hydrothermal vents could have promoted the reduction of carbon dioxide to formic acid and the subsequent formation of acetic acid.
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NewsDangerous E. coli strain blocks gut’s defense mechanism to spread infection
When harmful bacteria invade through the digestive tract, gut cells usually fight back by pushing infected cells out of the body to stop the infection from spreading. Scientists have discovered that a dangerous strain of E. coli can block gut this defense, allowing the bacteria to spread more easily.
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NewsDusty air is rewriting your lung microbiome
Dust from California’s drying Salton Sea doesn’t just smell bad. Scientists found that inhalation of airborne dust collected close to the shallow, landlocked lake alters both the microbial landscape and immune responses in mice that were otherwise healthy.
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NewsHow a pyrite-oxidizing microbe helps preserve atmospheric oxygen in sulfate
Research shows that O₂ in sulfate deposits, coupled with geochemical clues, could help identify microbial activity in Earth’s rock record and even in Martian sediments.
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NewsRare virus transmitted by rats infects woman in Germany—link to private pet rat breeding facility
The Seoul virus, which has been rarely detected in Germany to date and can be transmitted by rats, caused a woman to become seriously ill. Given that rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, health experts view this as a warning sign.
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NewsBacteria deliver synthetic, animal-free way to grow organoids in 3D
Researchers have developed a completely animal-free gel to grow organoids, miniature three dimensional versions of organs. By combining the bacterial protein invasin with a synthetic gel, they created an environment in which organoids can grow and expand long-term.
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NewsCommon source, common food vehicle: investigations of recurring Salmonella Strathcona outbreaks in Europe since 2011
Across 17 countries and over a time span of 14 years, 662 cases of the rare Salmonella type have been identified – and linked to small tomatoes from Sicily.
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NewsArtificial ocean carbon recycling system converts seawater CO2 into valuable chemicals
Researchers have developed an artificial ocean carbon recycling system that captures CO2 from seawater and uses microbes to directly convert it into succinic acid.
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NewsReport explores health, economic, and societal benefits of vaccination
A new report provides evidence on the advantages of immunization for individual and population health, economic outcomes, and societal well-being. Studies show that every $1 spent on childhood vaccines saves about $11 in avoided medical costs and preserved productivity.
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NewsBabies born eight to ten weeks early can be safely milk fed without risk of gut complications, finds a new study
A major study has found that babies born between eight to ten weeks early can be fed with milk through a tube in their stomach straight after birth rather than being given intravenous feeds through a drip.
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NewsBiochar and wetter soils offer breakthrough path to slash farm emissions without cutting crop yields
Raising groundwater levels and adding biochar to agricultural peat soils could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining healthy crop production, according to a new study from Bangor University. The study, published in Biochar (2025), tested how water table management and biochar, a charcoal-like soil additive made ...
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NewsGlobal platform for pandemic preparedness to be established at DTU National Food Institute
A new global online infrastructure aims to prevent disease outbreaks from developing into pandemics. DTU National Food Institute in Denmark will serve as the focal point for the new infrastructure. Work to build the platform will begin on 1 January 2026.
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NewsScientists develop a way to track donor bacteria after fecal microbiota transplants
Researchers have developed a new technology to track beneficial bacteria for up to 5 years after fecal microbiota transplants (FMT). The method allows scientists to distinguish even closely related bacterial strains and identify each one’s unique genetic “fingerprint.”
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NewsDoes floral scent affect insect visitors and bacterial strains on flowers?
A new study reveals that high floral scent chemodiversity is associated with increased pollinator richness but reduced bacterial richness on flowers. The findings led the scientists to propose the ’Filthy Pollinator Hypothesis’.
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NewsImportant algal phenomenon discovered in the Arctic – could boost marine life
The shrinking sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is, overall, a disaster. But paradoxically, the melting of the ice can also fuel the engine of the Arctic food chains: algae. A new study indicates there will probably be more of it in the future than previously thought.
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NewsMicrobes at Red Sea vents show how life and geology shape each other
A new study led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST; Saudi Arabia) Professor Alexandre Rosado has revealed an unusual microbial world in the Hatiba Mons hydrothermal vent fields of the central Red Sea, a site first discovered by one of his co-authors and colleagues, Assistant Professor Froukje ...