David Pires

Microbes are vital allies for a sustainable future 🌍🦠. At #IUMS2024, 1400+ experts stressed their role in #climate action, health & #biotech—calling for global collaboration, investment in microbial innovation & integration into policy.
buff.ly/Im93WQV

Have you checked the ‘EU funding & me’ yet?

The new app launched to make access to EU funding opportunities more intuitive and efficient for applicants and beneficiaries.

Find funding calls and access your projects directly from your mobile. Download it now: link.europa.eu/YY947y

#EUfundingApp

Whole body of a male Courtesy: David Pires (INIAV, PT)

Wilted trees Courtesy: Pedro Naves (PT)

#Bursaphelenchus #xylophilus - Priority Pests report
🌱 New EFSA Pest Report Released! 🌱
🔍 Read the full report here: doi.org/10.2903/sp.e...

📊 Learn about its characteristics and the factors that may influence its potential as a priority for pest management in Europe.

#PriorityPests
#PWN

Want to know how to predict the future of soil health with AI? Find out more about the topic – for free – in our latest webinar. Join leading experts and ask them your questions in the live Q&A. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/predicting... @ukceh.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu

🪱 Ready to take your C. elegans skills to the next level? Join our #EMBOCelegans course!

🎯 Learn hands-on genome editing, AI-driven imaging, microfluidics & uncover development, physiology & evolutionary insights.

📍 EMBL Heidelberg
📅 23 – 29 Mar 2026
👉 Apply by 8 Dec: s.embl.org/cel26-01-bl

University of California, Riverside is hiring:
Postdoctoral Scholar Series in Nematology

Registration is now open for Advances in Nematology 2025 🪱

📆 4th December
📍 Linnean Society of London & Online

Register now (in-person places are highly limited) 🔗 buff.ly/HOgf6af

#nematodes 🧪

Why do prey "play dead" when caught? Our new study reveals how the #nematode C. elegans goes into a sleep-like state when caught by a predatory fungus. It's not giving up—it's activating specific neurons to "freeze."
Full story: s.gwdg.de/NYkHdO
#maxplanck #fungalbiology #fungalwormlab #nematology

Frontiers | Eco-Omics Approaches in Nematode–Plant–Soil Microbiome Interactions The field of Eco-Omics has emerged as a powerful tool in understanding the interactions between nematodes, plants, and soil microbiomes. These interactions f...

📣 Working in #nematode–#microbiome interactions or #omics technologies to unravel nematode–plant–soil dynamics?

📥 Submit to Eco-Omics Approaches in Nematode–Plant–Soil Microbiome Interactions: www.frontiersin.org/research-top...

📆 Deadlines: 19 Nov 2025 (summary) | 9 Mar 2026 (full)

The host range paradox of Meloidogyne incognita: a physiological and transcriptomic analysis of nine susceptible interactions across six plant orders The plant-parasitic nematode Meloidogyne incognita is the pathogen with the broadest host range among all known biotrophic interactions. This species is also the single most damaging of a group of agr...

New Preprint alert! It is finally here!
M incognita is a remarkable pathogen: extremely specialised with the widest host range (> 3,000). All this while reproducing parthenogenetically! We analyse the infection phenotype and transcriptome of 9 hosts (6 orders) at 25 dpi.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Frontiers | Eco-Omics Approaches in Nematode–Plant–Soil Microbiome Interactions The field of Eco-Omics has emerged as a powerful tool in understanding the interactions between nematodes, plants, and soil microbiomes. These interactions f...

📣 Working in #nematode–#microbiome interactions or #omics technologies to unravel nematode–plant–soil dynamics?

📥 Submit to Eco-Omics Approaches in Nematode–Plant–Soil Microbiome Interactions: www.frontiersin.org/research-top...

📆 Deadlines: 19 Nov 2025 (summary) | 9 Mar 2026 (full)

We’re glad to be part of the International Partnerships Event 2025 at @universitypress.cambridge.org , @cropsciencecenter.
This morning, Prof. Danny Coyne briefly highlighted our ongoing work on Root-Knot Nematode (RKN) on Irish and Sweet Potato.

FIGURE 1 The decision intelligence process flow has three phases: A, establishing requirements; B, mapping the decision; and C, assessing and improving the causal decision model. A and B comprise decision modeling, the process of reducing stakeholders’ knowledge and preferences to causal decision models (CDMs), and inserting artificial intelligence and other models into CDMs. B and C comprise decision reasoning, the process of using decision models to discover how actions lead to outcomes and to find better actions.

David L. Roberts et al. introduce decision intelligence to enhance nematode management in sweetpotato cultivation. 🪱🍠 Learn more: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-09-24-0099-P

Fig. 6. Possible role of modified root system architecture (RSA) traits of Nicotiana benthamiana in grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) transmission by Xiphinema index. Asymptomatic GFLV strains sustain normal RSA, similar to that of noninfected plants, and provide optimal conditions for transmission with large and overlapping root networks. This scenario applies to wild-type GFLV-F13 and mutant GFLV-GHu 1EK802G. Symptomatic GFLV strains elicit perturbations in total root length, root surface area, and root tip number to reduce transmission due to short and non-overlapping root networks. This scenario applies to wild-type GFLV-GHu and mutant GFLV-F13 1EG802K.

Editor’s Pick: Brandon G. Roy et al. present a first report of a soilborne virus modifying both the RSA of a plant host and transmission by its dagger nematode via a single viral amino acid. Read the open access article: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-25-0105-R

🪱🍄 The secret to predatory escape lies in collagen. A new study how a single nematode gene nhr-66 resist fungal traps thanks to Velcro-like abilities, but the trade-off is their weakened cuticles making them vulnerable to rainfall. For more: s.gwdg.de/VJySw4
#Nematodes #FungalBiology #MaxPlanck

Behold! A microscopic Viking longship riding a giant nematode!

#FluorescenceFriday #SciArt

Jane Goodall, primatologist and friend to chimpanzees, dies at 91 She used her global fame to draw attention to the plight of dwindling chimpanzee populations and, more broadly, to the perils of environmental destruction.

Very sad. One of the world's great human beings.
#JaneGoodall

www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...

New study highlights complexity of pine wilt disease and implications for management A recent study has shed new light on the drivers of pine wilt disease in Europe, offering insights that could strengthen management practices and help safeguard Europe’s autochthonous pine forests.

🌲 New contribution to our #EUFORGEN Community: a study shows pine wilt disease in Europe is driven by multiple stressors, not a single cause. Findings call for holistic management approaches.

📖 www.euforgen.org/about-us/new...

#ForestHealth #PineWilt #Forests

🌍 INIAV showcased the PurPest project at the European Researchers' Night.

🤝 The event also highlighted our collaboration with the @forsaid.eu project, joining forces to advance eco-friendly agroforestry and plant health strategies.

✨ Find out more at purpest.eu/news/ern-2025

Grateful to have my profile featured!
🔹 www.facebook.com/SciProfiles/...
🔸 www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

This is next level, important, and inspiring. Very well done.

"Holobiont–holobiont interactions across host–ectoparasite systems"

parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....

Dr. Fatma Kaplan will speaking at the "From Discovery to Startup: Empowering Scientist Entrepreneurs" workshop by Science Societies on SEPT 30! 💻

Join her from 11AM-12:30PM CST on SEPT 30 👉 ow.ly/4UQT50X33fR

#cropscience #soilscience #scientistentrepreneurs

A review of molecular signaling and communication between root tissues and their endophytes The intricate molecular communications between host plants and their endophytes improve plant health, growth, and resilience against environmental challenges. Non-pathogenic bacteria and fungal endophytes occur between cells in plant tissues, contributing to nutrient acquisition, grazing deterrence, stress tolerance, and pathogen defense. Here we delve into the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underpinning host-endophyte symbiosis, including cell-cell signaling pathways, genetic determinants, and metabolite production. Molecular signaling involves phytohormones, volatile organic compounds, and secondary metabolites that facilitate mutualistic associations while modulating host immunity. Advances in "omics" technologies have unraveled key genomic and transcriptomic changes that regulate colonization, nutrient exchange, and stress response. The ecological and evolutionary dimensions of host-endophyte dynamics are discussed, emphasizing co-evolution and environmental influences on symbiotic relationships. The study highlights the potential of leveraging endophytes for sustainable agriculture, phytoremediation, and biotechnology, advocating for future research to bridge existing knowledge gaps and harness the full potential of these symbionts.

A review of molecular signaling and communication between root tissues and their endophytes - ScienceDirect

🌲 Our brand new paper, Multiple factors associated with forest decline in the context of control measures for the pinewood #nematode, has been published today in the 𝘌𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺

🔓 Read in open access at doi.org/10.1007/s106...

🎯 Excited to share that our paper “The Fight against Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: Current Status of Bacterial and Fungal Biocontrol Agents”, published three years ago in Pathogens, has reached 100 citations and nearing 20.000 views!

📄 Read the paper here doi.org/10.3390/path...

Abstract submission for #VNC2025 is now closed. Thank you for all your contributions!!
General registration will remain open until October 13th. You can use the link below to register but select no for submitting an abstract. t.co/LCCyWmzLiy

Nematode worms enter a sleep-like state when captured by predatory fungi, shedding light on ancient survival strategies When the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans gets caught by its fungal predator Arthrobotrys oligospora, it doesn't just wriggle endlessly—it suddenly "freezes," stopping all movement and feeding as ...

phys.org/news/2025-09...

⚠️ Last chance to register and final call for abstracts 📝 – deadline today! ⌛ docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

#VNC2025 is going to be global!! Thank you to everyone who already registered!
If you haven’t registered yet: today might be your last chance. Follow the link to register and/or submit an abstract forms.gle/yqQtpovYiwrY....
Looking forward to seeing everyone!!!
@biologists.bsky.social

Nematodes Per 100g Of Dry Soil

 For every human on earth there are 60 billion nematodes living in the soil

brilliantmaps.com/nematodes...