It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
A study in Medical and Veterinary Entomology investigated whether Culicoides biting midges—tiny insects that can carry serious livestock viruses—are being accidentally exported from Africa to Europe in shipments of cut flowers.
Although researchers did detect small numbers of these insects near and inside greenhouses on a Kenyan flower farm, they found none in packaging or transport areas. This suggests that the risk of midges being shipped with flowers is very low, but not zero.
Given that northern Europe has experienced several unexpected outbreaks of livestock diseases spread by midges in recent years, the findings highlight the need to consider flower shipments as a potential, though unlikely, pathway for disease spread. The study’s investigators suggest simple, low-cost measures (like insect light traps in packing rooms) and working with farmers to further reduce risk and protect both public health and international trade.
“Buying and giving cut flowers is of huge cultural importance in Europe, but the trend in recent decades to produce them on a huge scale in Africa and ship them by plane to Europe has introduced new risks of disease spread,” said corresponding author Matthew Baylis, PhD, of the University of Liverpool, in the UK. “Although we did not find direct evidence of the transport of midges from Africa to Europe, our study nevertheless highlights possible risks of spreading plant and animal diseases and vectors associated with the global trade in cut flowers.”
Additional Information NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.
About the Journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology is a Royal Entomological Society journal dedicated to the dissemination of impactful entomological research of medical, veterinary and forensic importance. We highlight transmission dynamics of vector-borne pathogens, arthropod ecology, behavior and development, and innovative control approaches. Emphasizing novel research with original articles, short communications, and reviews, excluding purely descriptive studies. Focusing on arthropod biology, and interactions with hosts and pathogens, the journal is a valuable platform for advancing medical, veterinary and forensic entomology research.
About Wiley Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content, data-driven insights, and knowledge services that advance science and learning. For more than 200 years, we’ve empowered researchers, learners and institutions worldwide to drive progress and solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Investigation of the global transportation of Culicoides biting midges, vectors of livestock and equid arboviruses, from flower-packing plants in Kenya
Article Publication Date
8-Oct-2025
Slime mold metabolites are a promising, eco-friendly repellent of root-knot nematodes
Japanese researchers found slime mold secretes organic compounds that repel parasitic nematodes from plant roots without harming soil fertility
Credit: Professor Tamao Saito from Sophia University, Japan
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are worm-like parasites of the genus Meloidogyne that are found in many parts of the world. They attack the roots of plants, causing them to wilt and eventually die. It is estimated that crops worth nearly USD 173 billion are lost every year due to RKN infestations. While chemical pesticides are effective in controlling RKNs, they also kill other microorganisms that are beneficial to plants, thereby reducing soil fertility. New, less toxic control methods are needed to prevent the loss of crops and soil fertility to RKNs.
Cellular slime mold (Dictyostelium discoideum) is a soil-dwelling microorganism known for its ability to coordinate the activity of individual cells using chemical signals. Previous studies have shown that D. discoideum secretions can repel RKNs and protect plant roots. Understanding which of the secreted chemicals are most effective at repelling RKNs could lead to the development of new control methods.
A team of researchers led by Professor Tamao Saito from the Faculty of Science and Technology at Sophia University, Japan, has discovered 14 compounds secreted by slime molds that repel RKNs and could be the source of new, non-toxic anti-RKN pesticides. Their research was first made available online on July 29, 2025, and published in Volume 73, Issue 31 of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry on August 6, 2025.
Prof. Saito says that the aim of their research was “To enhance sustainable agricultural production by addressing the challenge posed by RKNs through the utilization of methodologies that exhibit reduced environmental impact.” Previous research revealed problems when using cell extracts from slime molds. Therefore, the current study used what Prof. Saito calls a conditioned medium (CM), where slime mold cells were collected from growth medium, suspended in buffered water for 3 days, then dried and re-dissolved for use as needed.
CM had a very strong repellent effect against RKNs. At a concentration of 30 mg/mL, CM prevented the hatching of 99% of RKN eggs and killed nearly all juvenile RKNs. Even at a 3 mg/mL concentration, 81% of eggs did not hatch, and 71% of the juveniles were killed. In addition, pot experiments with tomato seedlings showed that daily treatment with CM protected roots from heavy nematode infection for up to 2 months, while also improving aboveground plant growth.
Encouraged by these results, the team then analyzed the chemical composition of the CM. 14 distinct organic compounds were found to repel juvenile RKNs. Of these 14 compounds, four are L-type basic amino acids, five are carboxylic acids, three are antioxidants, along with norepinephrine and pyridoxine. While some compounds were less effective in soil when tested individually, the researchers found that combining them produced a strong synergistic effect. This mixture was far more effective than the compounds alone, showing real potential for use in crop protection.
The team also found that these 14 compounds had synergistic effects. 0.01 mg of the mixture of the 14 compounds was as effective at repelling RKNs as 5 mg of CM, demonstrating the high potency of the mixture. In addition, as these were naturally occurring compounds, they would have very mild effects on soil fertility if used at scale. “Repellent compounds derived from cellular slime molds can contribute to sustainable food production and improved soil health as part of an integrated pest management approach,” says Prof. Saito.
Having identified repellent compounds in CM, Prof. Saito plans to direct future research towards understanding the mechanisms of RKN repulsion. “Since synergistic repellent effects were observed when multiple repellent compounds were mixed, these compounds may enhance repellent behavior by utilizing multiple different signaling pathways,” she says. Adding that: “It is important to verify at the genetic level how repellent substances induce repellent responses in RKNs, and this is the next step of our study.”
Reference
Title of original paper: Identification of Slime Mold Metabolites That Confer Protection to Commercial Crops against Root-Knot Nematodes
Journal: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Authors: Kana Y. Hayashi1, Yukiko Nagamatsu3, Moemi Kawano1, Sayaka Fuchimoto1, Tsuyoshi Araki2, and Tamao Saito2
Affiliations: 1Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Japan, 2Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Japan, 3Environmental Science Research Institute, Panefri Industrial Co., Ltd., Japan
About Professor Tamao Saito
Dr. Tamao Saito is a professor in the Department of Materials and Life Sciences at the Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Japan. She completed her PhD at Hokkaido University, where she also worked until joining Sophia University in 2009. She has published 69 papers, articles, and book chapters. Her primary research areas are chemical biology and molecular biochemistry, with a focus on chemical ecology and the metabolism of cellular slime molds.
About Sophia University
Established as a private Jesuit affiliated university in 1913, Sophia University is one of the most prestigious universities located in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. Imparting education through 29 departments in 9 faculties and 25 majors in 10 graduate schools, Sophia hosts more than 13,000 students from around the world.
Conceived with the spirit of “For Others, With Others,” Sophia University truly values internationality and neighborliness, and believes in education and research that go beyond national, linguistic, and academic boundaries. Sophia emphasizes on the need for multidisciplinary and fusion research to find solutions for the most pressing global issues like climate change, poverty, conflict, and violence. Over the course of the last century, Sophia has made dedicated efforts to hone future-ready graduates who can contribute their talents and learnings for the benefit of others, and pave the way for a sustainable future while “Bringing the World Together.”
The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is a soil microbe that produces diverse natural products with potential antibiotic activity. Previously, three chlorinated compounds had been detected in Dictyostelium, but only the most abundant compound (CDF-1) was identified and shown to be almost as effective an antimicrobial as ampicillin. In research published in FEBS Open Bio, investigators optimized lab culture conditions of Dictyostelium cells to boost the levels of low-abundance chlorinated compounds and to characterize their antimicrobial properties.
The optimized culture conditions took advantage of propionic acid and zinc supplementation to increase the yield of the chlorinated compounds, leading to the identification of CDF-2 and CDF-3 in addition to CDF-1. The molecular structure of CDF-2 and CDF-3 was similar to that of CDF-1, aside from the length of a molecular structure called an acyl side chain. When their antibacterial activity was tested, similarly to CDF-1, CDF-2 and CDF-3 exhibited stronger activity against Gram-positive bacteria than ampicillin but limited activity against Gram-negative bacteria.
Because these compounds are conserved across distantly related Dictyostelium species, CDFs may fulfill a critical role in protecting against harmful bacteria.
“Soil presents both opportunities and dangers for the Dictyostelium amoeba, and we believe this amoeba responds by producing specialized chemicals to attract, repel, or eliminate friends, prey, and predators. We are just starting to discover these chemicals, including this new, potent antibiotic,” said corresponding author Tamao Saito, PhD, of Sophia University, in Japan.
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About the Journal FEBS Open Bio is an open access journal for the rapid publication of research articles across the molecular and cellular life sciences. The journal’s rigorous peer review process focusses on the technical and ethical quality of papers, rather than subjective judgements of significance.
About Wiley Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content, data-driven insights, and knowledge services that advance science and learning. For more than 200 years, we’ve empowered researchers, learners and institutions worldwide to drive progress and solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss in both men and women—also called male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss. Topical minoxidil is an approved treatment, but it has poor water solubility and skin permeability. New research inAdvanced Healthcare Materialsreveals that stevioside, a natural sweetener derived from the Stevia plant, can improve the drug’s absorption into the skin.
In a mouse model of alopecia, a dissolving patch formulation of stevioside with minoxidil effectively promoted hair follicles to enter the growth phase, leading to new hair development.
“Using stevioside to enhance minoxidil delivery represents a promising step toward more effective and natural treatments for hair loss, potentially benefiting millions worldwide,” said co–corresponding author Lifeng Kang, PhD, of the University of Sydney, in Australia.
Additional Information NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com.
About the Journal Advanced Healthcare Materials, part of the prestigious Advanced portfolio, is in its second decade of publishing research on high-impact materials, devices, and technologies for improving human health. A broad-scope journal, coverage includes findings in biomaterials, biointerfaces, nanomedicine and nanotechnology, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
About Wiley Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content, data-driven insights, and knowledge services that advance science and learning. For more than 200 years, we’ve empowered researchers, learners and institutions worldwide to drive progress and solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
