Stirling research could extend biopesticide effectiveness

University of Stirling

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Dr Rosie Mangan 

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Credit: University of Stirling

Changes to a pest’s diet could slow the evolution of resistance to biopesticides, according to research from University of Stirling scientists.

It is hoped that the findings could allow the development of biopesticides that are effective for longer, potentially increasing food security, reducing damage to the natural environment and boosting agro-ecological biodiversity.

Researchers discovered that cotton bollworm pests – a species of moth that can cause considerable agricultural damage – show a great deal of genetic variation in how well they survive after being exposed to biopesticide fungi which are often considered safer alternatives to chemical pesticides.

The study showed that exposure to biopesticide fungi might lead to the evolution of resistance, just as with synthetic pesticides, and builds on previous findings that indicated new approaches are required in managing resistance risks to greener pesticides.

However, alterations to the pest’s diet, the crop it eats, had a greater impact on evolution of resistance than switching the type of pesticide used – meaning that the variety of crop grown could impact how quickly pests adapt to biopesticides.

Scientists from Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, working with colleagues at the São Paulo State University (Brazil), and the University of Gothenburg (Sweden) raised thousands of cotton bollworm larvae in the lab from different family lines.

The team tested how well the larvae survived after being exposed to two different fungal pathogens, while feeding on tomato, maize, or soybean plants.

Research took place in controlled lab conditions at the University of Stirling using fungi sourced from Brazil with the support of international partners, and combined breeding experiments with advanced statistical modelling to uncover genetic patterns.

It builds on a study published in 2023 that showed insect pests which attack crops already carry many genes that improve their ability to combat infection, which could lead to resistance to greener pesticides.

Dr Rosie Mangan, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Stirling, said: “This is a major insight because we have shown the potential for substantial evolutionary changes in surviving exposure to biopesticides – but also that farmers might slow this down by using more diverse cropping systems.

“Understanding how diet influences fungal biopesticides resistance helps inform smarter pest management strategies that are sustainable and less reliant on chemicals.
  
“Farmers and policymakers could use these findings to design pest control systems that keep biopesticides effective for longer, reducing environmental damage, helping promote agro-ecological biodiversity and improving global food security.

“These insights are especially relevant to agricultural policy in the UK, EU, and other regions where biopesticide use is growing.”

The new paper, Crop diversity induces trade-offs in microbial biopesticide susceptibility that could delay pest resistance evolution, is published in PLOS Pathogens.
 
Dr Mangan worked on the study with Professor Matthew Tinsley and Ester Ferrari, of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Stirling, Dr Luc Bussière of the University of Gothenburg, and Dr Ricardo Polanczyk of São Paulo State University.

The study formed part of a larger international initiative focused on making crop protection more sustainable, funded by the UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through a Newton Fund international partnership.

Additional support came from Sweden’s Vetenskapsrådet and the Carl Trygger Foundation.

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Journal

PLOS Pathogens

Article Title

Crop diversity induces trade-offs in microbial biopesticide susceptibility that could delay pest resistance evolution

 

Discovery offers new insights into skin healing in salmon

University of Stirling

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Dr Rose Ruiz Daniels

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University of Stirling scientists have discovered cells in the skin of Atlantic salmon that offer new insights into how wounds heal, tissues regenerate, and cellular transitions support long-term skin health.

By understanding how skin cells remodel and heal tissue, researchers hope to develop new strategies to enhance tissue integrity and reduce non healing wounds, potentially improving salmon farming mortality rates.

Research led by Dr Rose Ruiz Daniels of the University’s Institute of Aquaculture uncovered the previously unknown population of stem cells.

Published in BMC Biology, the study, Transcriptomic Characterization of Transitioning Cell Types in the Skin of Atlantic Salmon, reveals that fibroblast-like stem cells – known as mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) – play a central role in the remodelling phase of wound healing, which is critical for restoring skin integrity following injury.

Using advanced cell profiling technologies – single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics – the researchers profiled skin cells during a wound healing time course.

Dr Rose Ruiz Daniels said: “We found MSCs at both the wound site and in intact skin, suggesting these adult stem cells are a stable and functional part of salmon skin, and likely to be involved in maintaining its barrier and structural properties.

“These cells become more transcriptionally active during the remodelling stage of healing and show signs of differentiating into multiple tissue types including bone and fat.

“This hints at a broader regenerative capacity in fish skin than previously understood, potentially linking repair processes in the skin to those in deeper tissues like muscle, scales, and connective tissue.”

1200x630 Dr Rose Ruiz Daniels. University of Stirling Dr Rose Ruiz Daniels

MSC-like cells are well characterised in mammals, but this study suggests that in teleost fish such as salmon, these cells may retain higher pluripotency – or stemness – meaning they can take on a wider range of regenerative roles. 

This raises the possibility that fish skin regeneration may operate through more flexible cellular pathways than in terrestrial vertebrates.
The study also maps the spatial niches of various MSC subclusters, laying the groundwork for future studies aimed at manipulating these cells to improve tissue repair, resilience, and overall fish health.

Dr Ruiz Daniels added: “These findings have potentially far-reaching implications for aquaculture. Barrier tissue health, particularly of the skin and gills, is a major challenge in Atlantic salmon farming and a leading cause of mortality in sea cages. 

“There is an urgent need for innovative biotechnological approaches to enhance fish health, as aquaculture also faces mounting challenges from climate change, including heightened disease risks and increased thermal uncertainties.

“By understanding how skin cells remodel and heal tissue, we hope to develop new strategies to enhance tissue integrity and reduce non healing wounds at barrier tissues.”

This study is a collaborative effort across institutions including the University of Stirling, the Roslin Institute, Nofima, and the University of Prince Edward Island. 

Co-authors include Dr Sarah Salisbury, Dr Diego Robledo, Dr Lene Sveen, Dr Paula Rodriguez Villamayor, Professor Nick Robinson, Professor Ross Houston, Professor James Bron, Dr Sean Monaghan, Professor Mark Fast, Marianne Vaadal, Professor Aleksei Krasnov, Dr Torstein Tengs, Dr Carolina Penaloza Navarro, and Dr Maeve Ballantyne.

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Journal

BMC Biology

Subject of Research

Animal tissue samples

Article Title

Transcriptomic characterization of transitioning cell types in the skin of Atlantic salmon

 

How you handle your home life can boost work performance, shows new study

Proactively managing challenges at home can make people more effective and innovative at work

University of Bath

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A new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines – such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities – are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation at work.

Researchers found that employees who take initiative at home carry the momentum into their professional lives, becoming more resilient and forward-thinking.

The study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, was led by the University of Bath’s School of Management. Over a period of six weeks researchers followed 147 full-time, dual-income heterosexual couples with children in the US to explore how home life influences work performance.

“Sometimes family life can feel like survival mode,” said Professor Yasin Rofcanin from the University of Bath’s Future of Work research centre. “But when people proactively and deliberately make changes – whether to childcare routines, to care of older relatives, or how domestic tasks are shared - they feel more capable and in control. That confidence can carry over into their work, helping them become more creative and adaptable.”

Examples of these home-based changes include implementing shared calendars to coordinate busy schedules, rotating school pick-up duties, setting up new systems for eldercare, or introducing structured family planning sessions to resolve conflicts and set goals together. These small but intentional adjustments in home life reflect what researchers call ‘strategic renewal’.

Other examples of strategic renewal at home include redesigning living spaces to better support remote work, setting up quiet zones for focused tasks, or establishing tech-free periods to improve family connection.

Dr Siqi Wang, co-author from Aston Business School said: “Couples might hold regular ‘household check-ins’ to reassign chores, revisit priorities, or coordinate weekly plans. These kinds of deliberate, future-oriented adjustments enable families to respond flexibly to changing demands to build confidence, reduce stress, and enhance overall functioning at home and at work.”

The researchers emphasise that creativity is essential not only in the workplace but also within family systems, where individuals must continually adapt to shifting responsibilities and external demands.

A family environment that fosters openness, collaboration, and experimentation—what the researchers refer to as family creativity—can significantly enhance this adaptability, making proactive efforts more likely to have a positive impact on the individual, carrying over to improved performance and resilience at work.

Professor Rofcanin said: “As hybrid and flexible work models become the norm, the boundaries between home and work continue to blur. It’s important that employers recognise how home dynamics influence workplace performance. Supporting employees both at work and home can lead to a more engaged and innovative workforce.”

The study suggests that employers can amplify these benefits by investing in leadership development programmes that include training on work–family dynamics. Coaching, constructive feedback, and flexible working arrangements can further build employees’ confidence and problem-solving skills.

Additional support - such as wellness programmes, counselling services, family care assistance, and leisure incentives - can also play a key role in fostering a productive and creative workforce.

Previous research from the same team has shown that supportive interactions with co-workers can positively influence home life, benefiting partners and enhancing creativity at work.

The research team included collaborators from IESE Business School (Spain), ESE Business School (Chile), the University of the West of England and UBI Business School (Belgium). Read the full paper at: https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/joop.70027

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Journal

Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology

DOI

10.1111/joop.70027 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Understanding the dynamics of strategic renewal across domains: A work–home resources model perspective

UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

Unconditional cash transfers following childbirth increases breastfeeding

Covering post-birth expenses boosts breastfeeding rates, enhancing maternal health.

Boston University School of Medicine

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(Boston)—The U.S. is facing a maternal health crisis with higher rates of maternal mortality than any other high-income country. Social and economic factors, including income, are recognized determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality. In addition, more than half of pregnancy-related deaths (deaths occurring during pregnancy or within one year after delivery) occur in the postpartum year.

 

In what is believed to be the first review to summarize evidence on the effect of unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) on postpartum health outcomes in the U.S., researchers have found strong evidence that UCTs increase breastfeeding rates and result in little to no difference in postpartum mood.

 

“UCTs provide low-income parents with the ability to cover expensive costs following childbirth which can ease financial strain and allow more time to rest and bond with their baby. Healthier parents and children mean fewer hospital visits, better child development, and stronger families – all of which can save the public money in the long run and build healthier, thriving communities,” explained first author Sahar Choudhry, MPH, operations manager of StreetCred, a medical-financial partnership at Boston Medical Center. The senior and corresponding author is Mara Murray Horwitz MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and a primary care physician at Boston Medical Center.

 

The researchers reviewed research articles to see how different types of UCT programs affect postpartum (0 to 2 years after delivery) health outcomes in the U.S. Types of UCTs included social programs such as tax credits, disability benefits from Social Security, and direct cash transfers. After finding all eligible articles, they conducted a dual data extraction, followed by a study quality and strength of evidence assessment for each eligible article. Ultimately, they found 11 reports from six studies. Four of these studies analyzed three social programs, and two were experiments that gave cash directly to low-income people after giving birth.

 

Based on their review, the researchers concluded that UCTs increased breastfeeding across a variety of different settings and populations. Breastfeeding can improve maternal health in many ways, such as lowering the risks of future high blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. “Future studies should examine more closely the mechanisms by which UCTs increase breastfeeding, and any other factors that play into it such as work or childcare, so that interventions can be designed for maximum impact,” adds Choudhry.

 

Additionally, the review found that UCTs of different types (e.g., tax credits, disability benefits, and direct cash transfers), all administered to people with low incomes, resulted in little to no difference in postpartum mood (namely depressive symptoms). Some of the authors of those analyses suggested that the UCTs were not large enough, or were not studied for a sufficient amount of time, to truly understand their impact on maternal depression.

 

Finally, this review highlights the lack of postpartum outcome data collected after UCTs. The researchers recommend that UCT programs collect data on a wider set of postpartum outcomes, especially those associated with delivery complications, mental health, and heart disease. They also highlight the need for increased collaboration between social scientists and clinicians in designing effective interventions to guide public health policy and maternal health outcomes.

 

These findings appear online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

 

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Journal

Annals of Internal Medicine

DOI

10.7326/ANNALS-24-03495 

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Associations Between Unconditional Cash Transfers and Postpartum Outcomes in the United States: A Systematic Review

Article Publication Date

27-May-2025

Why after 2000 years we still don't know how tickling works

Radboud University Nijmegen

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Socrates wondered 2,000 years ago, and Charles Darwin also racked his brains: what is a tickle, and why are we so sensitive to tickling? ‘Tickling is relatively under-researched,’ says neuroscientist Konstantina Kilteni. She argues that tickling is a very interesting subject for research. ‘It is a complex interplay of motor, social, neurological, developmental and evolutionary aspects. If we know how tickling works at the brain level, it could provide a lot of insight into other topics in neuroscience. Tickling can strengthen the bond between parents and children, for instance, and we usually tickle our babies and children. But how does the brain process ticklish stimuli and what is the relationship with the development of the nervous system? By investigating this, you can learn more about brain development in children.' 

Autism 

Research also shows that people with autism spectrum disorder, for example, perceive touches as more ticklish than people without autism spectrum disorder. Investigating this difference could provide insight into differences in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorder and people without and could help with getting knowledge about autism. 

‘But we also know that apes such as bonobos and gorillas respond to ticklish touches, and even rats have been observed being so. From an evolutionary perspective, what is the purpose of tickling? What do we get out of it?’  

The fact that you cannot tickle yourself is also interesting from a scientific point of view: ‘Apparently, our brain distinguishes ourselves from others, and because we know when and where we are going to tickle ourselves, the brain can switch off the tickling reflex in advance. But we don't know what exactly happens in our brain when we are tickled.’  

Tickling or tickling  

Kilteni argues that these questions have not yet been answered because it has not been clearly defined what tickling actually is within the scientific community – there is a difference between when you tickle someone hard someone on the armpits, for instance, with your hands and tickling someone's back lightly with a feather. The first sensation is understudied while we know much more for the second feather-like stimulation.  It is also difficult to compare between existing studies: when someone is tickled by another person, it is difficult to replicate that form of tickling exactly with another test subject.  

Tickling lab 

Kilteni has a tickling lab for this very purpose: it contains a chair with a plate with two holes in it. You put your feet through the holes and then a mechanical stick tickles your footsoles. That way, every tickle experiment is the same. The neuroscientist records exactly what happens in your brain and also immediately checks all other physical reactions, such as heart rate, sweating, breathing, or laughter and screaming reactions. ‘By incorporating this method of tickling into a proper experiment, we can take tickling research seriously. Not only will we be able to truly understand tickling, but also our brains.’ 

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Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adt0350 

Article Title

The extraordinary enigma of ordinary tickle behavior: Why gargalesis still puzzles neuroscience

Article Publication Date

23-May-2025

 

New tech detects dehydration by touching a screen

King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)

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By measuring how skin interacts with a touchscreen, this innovative sensor monitors the body's hydration status in real time.

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Credit: © 2025 KAUST

The holy month of Ramadan is a sacred time when millions of Muslims around the world embark on a profound spiritual journey of fasting, prayer, and reflection. But it is also a time when many face serious health risks, as going without food or water from sunrise to sunset — often in scorching heat — can lead to dangerous levels of dehydration.

Now, scientists at KAUST have found a surprisingly simple way to track the body’s water levels during fasting: by measuring how skin interacts with a touchscreen[1].

It is not only useful when fasting. The research team, led by electrical engineer Tareq Al-Naffouri and colleagues at KAUST, showed that the same method applies to athletes, who often experience dehydration due to intense exertion and fluid loss through sweat.

“It is also reasonable to expect that the approach could one day benefit other vulnerable groups, including the very old, the very young, and those with kidney disease,” says Al-Naffouri.

To demonstrate the concept, Al-Naffouri’s team used a basic capacitive sensor — the same type found in smartphone screens — capable of detecting subtle shifts in skin moisture. When a fingertip touches the sensor, it registers changes in skin capacitance, a measure of how well the skin stores electric charge, which varies with hydration levels.

The researchers suggest that this data could eventually allow people to monitor their hydration in real time — no needles, wearables, or lab work required. A quick touch could alert someone to drink water or replenish fluids before symptoms like dizziness or fatigue begin to set in.

“We envision real-time, everyday, user-friendly hydration monitoring, where users simply place their finger on their smartphone screen to assess their hydration status,” says study author Soumia Siyoucef, a former visiting student in Al-Naffouri’s research group.

To validate their technology, the KAUST team collected more than 4,000 fingertip readings from people either observing Ramadan and fasting much of the day or athletes engaged in a game of ultimate Frisbee or working out at the gym. They trained machine-learning models to convert small changes in skin conductance into a measure of the body’s water content.

When put to the test, the system delivered impressive results — accurately distinguishing between hydrated and dehydrated states up to 92 percent of the time among athletes and 87 percent among fasting individuals.

Reference

1. Siyoucef, S., Adnane, M., Rahman, M.M.U., Laleg-Kirati, T.-M. & Al-Naffouri, T.Y. Noninvasive Monitoring of Dehydration of Fasting and Sportspeople Subjects via Skin Capacitance, IEEE Sensors Journal 25, 11428–11440 (2025).| article.

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Journal

IEEE Sensors Journal

Article Title

Noninvasive Monitoring of Dehydration of Fasting and Sportspeople Subjects via Skin Capacitance