Osaka Metropolitan University, K.K. DNAFORM, and INRB launch development of a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease

Osaka Metropolitan University

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

This is an introductory video for the GenPad cartridge being developed for the detection of Ebola virus disease (Bundibugyo virus). This product is currently under development and evaluation and is not intended for clinical use or commercial sale.

A video introducing the development-stage platform is available at https://www.dnaform.jp/ja/GenPad/Product/BDBV

view more 

Credit: Osaka Metropolitan University

Professor Yasutoshi Kido of the Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), in collaboration with K.K. DNAFORM and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is developing a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). The project has been selected for funding by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund).

On May 16, 2026 (Geneva time; May 17, Japan time), the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” (PHEIC) regarding the outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by BDBV in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

In affected areas, it is crucial to rapidly test suspected cases and ensure patient isolation, contact tracing, and prompt treatment. In regions with limited medical resources, challenges remain in establishing point-of-care testing (POCT), which enables medical testing to be performed near the site of patient care without advanced laboratory facilities.

The research team worked quickly to establish a development framework following the declaration of a PHEIC. Utilizing technology that is being developed by K.K. DNAFORM with support from the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency’s Security Technology Research Promotion Program, the team produced a prototype test kit for detecting BDBV in 40 days. Initial laboratory evaluation confirmed that the prototype met the target performance criteria.

The development timeline is aligned with the objective of “100-Day Mission”, which aims to develop and deploy diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines available within 100 days of identifying a new infectious disease threat.

The project represents a practical example of a rapid research and development framework that leverages a collaborative network of industry, academia, government, and international partners.

[Challenges in Diagnosing Ebola Virus Disease Caused by BDBV]

BDBV is a member of the genus Ebolavirus and is distinct from Ebola virus (EBOV, formerly Zaire ebolavirus). Therefore, knowledge generated from approved vaccines and diagnostic systems targeting EBOV cannot necessarily be applied directly to BDBV, and testing systems that can reliably detect and differentiate BDBV are needed.

In current outbreak areas, there are constraints regarding specimen transport, power supply, testing personnel, and biosafety. Highly sensitive and simple testing technologies that can be rapidly deployed near affected areas are important for early diagnosis, isolation, contact tracing, and determining treatment strategies.

[Development Framework Aligned with the “100-Day Mission” Allows a Rapid Response to Outbreaks]

The “100-Day Mission” is an international goal aimed at ensuring diagnostic tests, treatments, vaccines, and other tools are ready to use within 100 days of the confirmation of an emerging infectious disease outbreak. 

As part of this initiative, OMU researchers are building a rapid-response development framework that integrates OMU’s overseas research base and international network, with K.K. DNAFORM’s technology for developing portable nucleic acid testing platforms and INRB’s field-based outbreak investigation capacity and research infrastructure. The Japanese government is also contributing to the establishment of this framework as part of its Global Health Strategy*.

The team launched its development efforts immediately after the declaration of a PHEIC and achieved early development milestones aligned with the objectives of the 100-Day Mission.

[Features of the GenPad Smart BDBV Portable Rapid Diagnostic System]

This system utilizes the “GenPad” POCT platform, which is based on K.K. DNAFORM’s SmartAmp isothermal PCR technology (Eprobe detection). The platform is designed to use portable equipment that can be used even at outbreak sites without power infrastructure.

 The prototype is being developed with the following intended features:

• In initial laboratory testing, the prototype met the LOD target of ≤200 copies per cartridge, consistent with performance criteria referenced in WHO EUL-related materials.
• In initial laboratory testing, no cross-reactivity was observed against a panel of 86 microbial species
• Portable (weighing only 460 g)
• Battery-powered (7.2 VDC, 21.6 Wh) and capable of performing eight tests on a single charge
• Results available in approximately 30 minutes from blood collection
• Uses fully sealed cartridges, designed to simplify sample handling and reduce exposure risk after appropriate training
• Multiple devices can be clustered together to support simultaneous testing of multiple samples

[How to Use the GenPad Smart BDBV]

A video introducing the development-stage platform is available at https://www.dnaform.jp/ja/GenPad/Product/BDBV

*This is an introductory video for the GenPad cartridge being developed for the detection of Ebola virus disease (Bundibugyo virus). This product is currently under development and evaluation and is not intended for clinical use or commercial sale.

[Research Background]

Since 2020, OMU has received support from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development’s (AMED’s) “Center for Translational and Effectiveness Research in Democratic Republic of the Congo” project. Through this initiative, OMU and INRB have built a long-term collaborative research framework and established an overseas research center in the DRC. This center has not only strengthened research infrastructure, but has also contributed to capacity building through joint training of researchers and students from both institutions.

The research also extends to mpox, which was declared a PHEIC in 2022 and 2024. OMU has been advancing research on emerging infectious diseases in collaboration with the INRB through initiatives such as the AMED “Unraveling Human Immunity for Orthopoxvirus Prevention via Serological Epidemiology” project.

Since 2025, OMU and K.K. DNAFORM have been researching the development of portable nucleic acid testing platforms with support from AMED’s “Development of point of care testing system for Mpox based on a portable, highly sensitive and simple PCR technique” project. Building these trusted relationships and improving the established development infrastructure have made this rapid development possible.

With support from the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency’s Security Technology Research Promotion Program, K.K. DNAFORM has established a system to develop, manufacture, and ship GenPad cartridges capable of detecting unknown pathogens within 40 days of the emergence of a new, unknown infectious disease. This system serves as the foundation of the program, enabling the rapid development of the product as needed. This statement does not imply that ATLA guarantees the product’s performance, clinical use, or regulatory approval.

[Future Plans]

Our research team will proceed with validation and development in phases:

1. Performance validation using mock samples (virus mimics that do not replicate and are non-infectious, known as armored RNA)
2. Clinical performance validation using clinical samples in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in collaboration with INRB
3. Parallel development of a multiplex version capable of differentiating BDBV, EBOV, and SUDV within a single cartridge is underway, although the development of a BDBV-specific test kit remains the priority
4. Preparation of data required for potential WHO Emergency Use Listing and other emergency regulatory pathways

Through this two-track parallel development strategy, the team aims to establish both a BDBV-specific test to meet current urgent needs and a highly versatile testing platform capable of responding to future Ebola virus disease outbreaks. This strategy is being executed in close coordination with international organizations including the WHO.

This project has been selected by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund). GHIT Fund’s support covers approved early development milestones, including prototype development and performance validation. The project is part of OMU’s continued commitment to promoting research and the development of technologies for combating infectious diseases through collaborations with industry, academia, government, and international organizations.

[About the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)]

The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership (PPP) fund that was formed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests in and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases, which afflict the world’s vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropical diseases.

https://www.ghitfund.org/

[Reference Information]

AMED-Funded Projects

■ Japan Program for Infectious Diseases Research and Infrastructure

Global Research Infrastructure

“Center for Translational and Effectiveness Research in Democratic Republic of the Congo” (Principal Investigator: Yasutoshi Kido)

https://www.amed.go.jp/program/list/15/01/001_003.html

■ Research Program on the challenges of Global Health issues

“Development of point of care testing system for Mpox based on a portable, highly sensitive and simple PCR technique” (Principal Investigator: Yasutoshi Kido)

https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/20/01/2001C_00104.html

■ Research Program on Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases

“Unraveling Human Immunity for Orthopoxvirus Prevention via Serological Epidemiology” (Principal Investigator: Natsuko Kaku)

https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/11/02/1102C_00111.html

■Program for Accelerating Medical Research (Site Principal Investigator: Motomu Hashimoto)

“Training Physician Scientists and Enhancing Research Capacity to Tackle Intractable Diseases through Immune Dynamics Analysis Cohorts and AI-driven Approaches”

https://www.amed.go.jp/koubo/16/01/1601C_00076.html

[Research Institutions and Companies]

■ Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University—Department of Virology and Parasitology

The Department of Virology and Parasitology (Professor Yasutoshi Kido) specializes in genomic and sero-epidemiology, host pathogenesis analysis, and drug development related to emerging infectious diseases, such as mpox and Ebola virus disease, as well as endemic diseases including malaria and other neglected tropical diseases.

https://www.omu.ac.jp/med/research/departments/virology/

■ K.K. DNAFORM (Joint Research Institution/Product Development Company)

A RIKEN spin-off established in 1998 (Headquarters: Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture). K.K. DNAFORM aims to increase the implementation of cutting-edge nucleic acid technologies in healthcare and society. The company has developed and commercialized the GenPad platform (SmartAmp isothermal PCR, Eprobe detection technology), a portable, battery-powered device that enables diagnostics equivalent to high-sensitivity PCR. GenPad aims to democratize infectious disease diagnosis. The manufacturing and international sales of GenPad will be handled by K.K. Mirai Genomics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of K.K. DNAFORM.

■ National Institute of Biomedical Research of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (INRB) (Collaborating Research Institution)

The INRB is a national research institute in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa) that plays a central role in research and development, as well as infection control measures, for highly pathogenic infectious diseases, including Ebola virus disease. This project is being conducted in close collaboration with Prof. Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Global Health at INRB, who serves as a visiting professor of Osaka Metropolitan University. Dr. Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, the institute’s director, received the 3rd Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize (2019) from the Japanese government for his achievements, including contributions to the discovery and control of Ebola virus disease, marking the strong ties between this research institution and Japan.

The schedules and performance figures in this press release are current plans and targets and are subject to change.

*The Global Health Strategy is a government document issued by the Headquarters for the Promotion of Health and Medical Care Strategies (headed by the Prime Minister) that outlines Japan’s contribution to the “100-Day Mission” agreed upon at the 2021 G7 Summit.

 

Helpful microbes could battle pathogens in our hospitals and schools - with the help of AI to make it work

Applied Microbiology International

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBluesky
Email

 

image: 

Beneficial bacterium Bacillus subtilis on an agar plate

view more 

Credit: Kathleen Furtado

Helpful microbes that combat harmful pathogens could be the answer to rising antimicrobial resistance - particularly within built environments such as hospitals, homes and schools.

That’s according to a fascinating new review that discusses the ongoing threat of antimicrobial resistant infections and why current prevention and treatment methods fall short.

‘Bioactive environments to combat antimicrobial resistance: artificial intelligence and model-driven microbial biocontrol for living materials’ is a review carried out by researchers at University of California San Diego and has recently been accepted for publication by the Journal of Applied Microbiology, an Applied Microbiology International publication.

It also dives into how AI and metabolic modelling approaches can inform how we design, develop, and test more effective biocontrol strategies.

Global health threat

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat, projected to cause 8-10 million deaths annually by 2050. The persistent failure of current antibiotic treatments has led to the assertion by some that we are already in the post-antibiotic era. More research is needed to develop effective strategies that can prevent infections in the first place,” said lead author Dr. Kathleen Furtado.

MICROBIOLOGY NEWS: Register with The Microbiologist for more free articles 

“Extensive cleaning with chemical disinfectants is our current frontline defense, but this approach is not always effective at removing resistant pathogens, and certain cleaners can even promote more resistance development. We discuss using microbial biocontrol as a complementary approach to combat antimicrobial resistance. In other words, using “good” microbes to outcompete, directly inhibit, and/or occupy space such that pathogens cannot gain a foothold.”

Microbial control so far

To date, microbial biocontrol has been tested in agriculture, for livestock and soils, and in various built environments, in particular hospitals.

But in built environments, the outcomes of microbial biocontrol have been inconsistent, with some studies citing large reductions in pathogen prevalence while others have seen little effect. These inconsistencies are likely due to several factors, like genetic differences between the strains used, undefined mechanisms for how those strains could be inhibiting pathogens, environmental stressors that vary between facilities, nutrient variability on different built environment surfaces, what other microbes are present in that environment, etc.

Moreover, the current regulatory landscape for microbial biocontrol in built environments lacks a consistent approach for risk assessment, which is a significant barrier to implementation. The review argues that AI and modeling can help account for these variables and guide testing for risk assessment.

How AI can help

“This review adds to our understanding of the field by highlighting how AI can synthesize information from microbial metabolic modeling, multi-omic datasets, and more focused lab experiments,” said Dr Furtado.

“We describe how AI and models can make microbial biocontrol more feasible, specifically by predicting how biocontrol microbes might interact with existing communities or pathogens, by identifying potential risks (e.g., likelihood for resistance genes to spread), and by integrating context-specific information about a given environment to better predict how microbes might interact in the real-world.

MICROBIOLOGY ON TAP: Get full access to all The Microbiologist articles from just £2.17 a month

“We describe how these models fit within iterative design-test-learn cycles: laboratory and multi-omic data inform metabolic models and can collectively be used to build AI foundation models. These models generate predictions which then inform new experiments to validate and/or further improve existing models. This iterative cycle of prediction, validation, and continually filling gaps in our models serves to promote the development of innovative, effective, and safe biocontrol.”

The built environment

Microbes for biocontrol could be deployed in built environments in sprayed cleaners; this approach has been tested and certain formulations are even commercially available, although the data on their efficacy is mixed.

However, these formulations could be improved by selecting strains that are most likely to survive and be active against pathogens in built environments, which is where modeling approaches would be particularly helpful.

“We also discuss how microbial biocontrol may be implemented using engineered living materials (ELMs), which could allow for sustained biocontrol and enhanced biosafety. ELMs involve growing or embedding/printing microbes into materials that are suitable for construction (e.g., ceramics, concrete, cellulose),” Dr Furtado said.

“Microbes can even be encapsulated in materials to prevent their escape, which would further reduce any potential human health or environmental risks, while still allowing for competitive inhibition (e.g., by competing for nutrients or secreting compounds that inhibit pathogens).

“Modeling could further enhance this approach by identifying materials that optimally balance supporting survival and activity of the biocontrol microbe with structural integrity.”

Next steps

Dr Furtado warns that any insights gained from using AI and metabolic modeling must be experimentally validated to ensure the microbes and engineering approaches used are effective and safe.

“Also, we still know relatively little about how microbes behave in real-world, built environment settings - specifically, the extent to which potential competitive mechanisms are actually expressed by biocontrol microbes in these settings. More mechanistic experiments are needed, and AI-guided model predictions provide a potential way to identify, prioritize, and design these experiments,” she said.

This review was led by Dr. Kathleen Furtado and Dr. Jack Gilbert, with support from Dr. Maxwell Neal with extensive expertise in metabolic modeling approaches.

‘Bioactive environments to combat antimicrobial resistance: artificial intelligence and model-driven microbial biocontrol for living materials’ is published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

---

Journal

Journal of Applied Microbiology

DOI

10.1093/jambio/lxag161 

Article Title

Bioactive environments to combat antimicrobial resistance: artificial intelligence and model-driven microbial biocontrol for living materials

Article Publication Date

7-Jul-2026

 

New laser technology could help stop deadly fake alcohol

Adelaide University

FacebookX

LinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Adelaide University physicist Dr Ralf Mouthaan,  one of the team members who developed the methanol detection technique. 

view more 

Credit: Adelaide University

A laser-based technology being developed at Adelaide University could soon help authorities detect deadly counterfeit alcohol, expose wine fraud and even identify dangerous chemicals inside sealed bottles – all without opening them.

The breakthrough builds on newly published research conducted at the University of St Andrews in Scotland in collaboration with Adelaide University, demonstrating that a specially designed laser system can detect toxic methanol hidden inside unopened spirit bottles, even through coloured glass.

While the latest study focused on identifying dangerous methanol contamination in whisky and other spirits, Adelaide University researchers are already expanding the technology into new areas with the potential to protect consumers and support Australian industries.

Methanol poisoning remains a serious global health problem, causing hundreds of deaths each year and leaving many more people blind or permanently injured. Counterfeit alcohol is often impossible to detect without opening the bottle and conducting expensive laboratory tests.

The new optical technique changes that.

Using a sophisticated form of sensing known as Raman spectroscopy, researchers can read the unique chemical "fingerprint" of a liquid through its packaging.

By combining two advanced optical techniques – carefully shaping the laser beam and subtly changing its wavelength during measurement – the team dramatically improved the system's ability to detect tiny amounts of methanol while filtering out interference from the bottle itself.

The technology can detect methanol at concentrations around 10 times lower than internationally recognised safety limits, offering a fast, non-destructive alternative to conventional laboratory testing.

Adelaide University physicist Dr Ralf Mouthaan from the Centre of Light for Life said the research was opening the door to a much broader range of applications beyond alcohol safety.

"Being able to identify the contents of a sealed bottle without opening it has enormous potential," Dr Mouthaan said.

"At Adelaide University we're now adapting this technology to tackle problems that directly affect Australian industries, including wine authentication, food quality and product safety."

Researchers have already demonstrated they can capture a unique optical fingerprint of wine through the bottle, creating a potential new weapon against wine fraud, a problem estimated to cost the global wine industry billions of dollars each year.

The team is also investigating whether the technology could detect trace pesticide contamination in olive oil, identify counterfeit perfumes, and allow law enforcement agencies to determine whether bottles contain hazardous chemicals without opening them.

The research also has significant potential for Australia's agricultural sector. Adelaide University is preparing to begin a research program worth more than $10 million with collaborators at the University of Technology Sydney and Murdoch University, applying related laser sensing technologies to support Australia's grain industry.

Ané Kritzinger, a joint PhD candidate with Adelaide University and the University of St Andrews, led the methanol research that was recently published in the Journal of Physics: Photonics

Kritzinger said the versatility of the technology was one of its greatest strengths.

"Once you can accurately identify the molecular fingerprint of a liquid through its packaging, there are countless possibilities," she said.

"We're interested in applying the same principles wherever industries need a rapid, reliable and non-invasive way to verify what's inside a sealed container."

Dr Mouthaan said the newly published research represents an important milestone towards practical, real-world devices.

"Our goal is to develop technology that can move out of the laboratory and into places where it can make a real difference – whether that's customs checkpoints, distilleries, food manufacturers or quality assurance facilities," Dr Mouthaan said.

The research, Non-invasive Raman spectroscopy with wavefront shaping and wavelength modulation to quantify methanol in bottled spirits, has been published in the Journal of Physics: Photonics. DOI: 10.1088/2515-7647/ae6c78

---

DOI

10.1088/2515-7647/ae6c78 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Article Title

Non-invasive Raman spectroscopy with wavefront shaping and wavelength modulation to quantify methanol in bottled spirits

 

Fertilizer from the neighborhood – where local ammonia plants make economic sense

Paul Scherrer Institute

Facebook

X
BlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Tom Terlouw from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and his team examined around 13,000 scenarios for the low-carbon production of ammonia, the raw material for fertilisers. “Decentralised systems can shorten supply chains, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make fertiliser supplies more robust.”

view more 

Credit: © Paul Scherrer Institute PSI/Mahir Dzambegovic

Ammonia is one of the world’s most important chemicals: without it and the fertilisers derived from it, fields worldwide would produce less food – many supermarket shelves would be empty. Currently, this essential raw material is produced mainly in a few large chemical plants and transported over long distances. Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, ETH Zurich, and the Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford University in the US have now investigated where small-scale plants could produce the material in a low-carbon way and close to demand.

“Decentralised plants could shorten supply chains, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and make the fertiliser supply more robust,” says Tom Terlouw, a scientist in the Laboratory for Energy Systems Analysis at PSI and lead author of the study. “But they would not automatically be low carbon or economical. The crucial factors are their location and the source of the electricity.”

Therefore, the research team analysed potential locations and framework conditions in around 13,000 scenarios worldwide – from Spain and the Netherlands to China and India, and on to Brazil, Nigeria, South Africa, and Australia.

Haber-Bosch: now electric

Current ammonia production is estimated to cause one to two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The reason: in the classic Haber-Bosch process, nitrogen from the air is combined with hydrogen. This hydrogen usually comes from natural gas; its production generates substantial carbon dioxide emissions.

A more low-carbon alternative is to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. In this process, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. If the electricity comes from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources, ammonia can be produced with significantly lower carbon emissions.

“Ammonia is one of the most sensible applications for green hydrogen,” says Terlouw. “Cars or heating systems can be electrified directly. But we still need hydrogen to produce ammonia.”

Smaller, modular plants operate at lower pressures and temperatures than conventional large-scale plants and could be more easily integrated with renewable energy sources. Such mini-plants could reduce emissions and minimise dependence on global supply chains. The recent tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated just how vulnerable these systems can be: fertiliser prices rose sharply in response.

The location is decisive

It is clear that completely converting global ammonia production to hydrogen from electrolysis would require enormous amounts of electricity. “That's precisely why we need to carefully examine where the new production method is truly worthwhile,” says Terlouw. “The technology should be deployed where it makes ecological and economic sense.”

So-called hybrid plants perform best. These combine electricity from local wind and solar power plants with electricity from the public grid. While purely off-grid plants produce the lowest emissions, at present they usually cost more to set up and operate, because they require additional storage as well as larger solar plants and wind farms.

“Generally speaking, ammonia produced using electrolysis is still more expensive today than that produced using traditional methods,” Terlouw says. “In some regions, however, it can already come closer to today’s market prices – especially where electricity is cheap, renewable energy sources are plentiful, and financing costs are low.” This is the case, for example, in China and the Netherlands.

At the same time, the researchers warn against automatically classifying electrically produced ammonia as low carbon. Their study has shown that if the grid electricity comes predominantly from coal-fired power plants – as in Poland or South Africa – the climate impact can even be worse than with conventional production.

The team considered not only direct emissions but also the environmental impact across the entire life cycle, including the production of electrolysers, solar and wind power plants, batteries, and storage systems.

Opportunities for Europe and Switzerland

Switzerland has no industrial ammonia production facilities; it imports both finished mineral fertilisers and the raw material itself primarily from neighbouring countries. Therefore, local plants are fundamentally attractive, Terlouw says. One advantage is Switzerland’s comparatively low-carbon grid electricity from hydropower and nuclear power; fossil fuels account for a very small share, less than two percent.

By 2050, the economic viability of the electric process could improve significantly. Decreasing costs for electrolysers, storage, and energy from renewable sources could make decentralised ammonia plants competitive in many regions. “Technically, much is possible,” Terlouw says. “But for this technology to become established, it needs investment, clear standards for low-carbon ammonia, and above all a stable political environment that reliably supports the decarbonisation of industry.”

Text: Paul Scherrer Institute PSI/Brigitte Osterath

 

About PSI

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI develops, builds and operates large, complex research facilities and makes them available to the national and international research community. The institute's own key research priorities are in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether PSI employs 2300 people, thus being the largest research institute in Switzerland. The annual budget amounts to approximately CHF 450 million. PSI is part of the ETH Domain, with the other members being the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne, as well as Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) and WSL (Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research). 

---

Journal

Energy & Environmental Science

DOI

10.1039/d6ee01125j 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Haber-Bosch 2.0 for low-carbon ammonia production: A global techno-economic and environmental assessment

Article Publication Date

14-Jul-2026

 

What animals do before going to war

Cell Press

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

A group of meerkats standing together in the face of an outside threat.

view more 

Credit: Andy Radford, University of Bristol

Social animals use a suite of preemptive behaviors in anticipation of conflict, including staying quiet, monitoring their surroundings, conducting raids, and bonding through play. In a review publishing in the Cell Press journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution on July 16, researchers describe how environmental cues and memories of past events can trigger these behaviors. Over generations, these pre-war preparations could impact socio-cognitive evolution, population dynamics, and community structures. 

“Intergroup conflict is rife throughout the natural world, being found in social species from ants to primates,” says corresponding author Andrew Radford of the University of Bristol in the UK.  

Conflict over resources such as territory space, food, or mating exerts a powerful evolutionary force on social species, potentially impacting fitness and survival, say the researchers. Traditionally, research has focused on actions between rival groups during contests and the behavioral consequences afterward. But evolution can also select for preemptive behaviors that maximize the chances of winning in a conflict.  

“What is becoming very clear is that preemptive behavior is widespread whenever intergroup conflict is found,” says first author Josh Arbon of the University of Bristol. “There is growing evidence that the amount of anticipatory behavior displayed is dependent on the current threat level. More is seen when rivals are more likely to be encountered, larger in size, less familiar, or more likely to attack.” 

Humans have long been known to prepare for warfare by increasing surveillance, using elevated areas to gather information, conducting ambushes and raids, and moving quietly through enemy territory to avoid detection. Recent studies of wild animals provide similar examples of preparation for encounters with rival groups. 

“Studying other species experimentally and in natural conditions can not only expand our understanding of a widespread aspect of sociality but also help to provide insights into our own conflict ancestry,” Radford says. 

Observations of chimpanzees have revealed that groups tend to rest on hilltops in areas where intergroup contests occur rather than engage in noisier activities such as feeding or traveling. In addition, experiments have shown that dwarf mongooses respond to olfactory or vocal cues of rivals by moving more slowly and engaging in sentinel behaviors, which allow them to monitor their surroundings more easily. 

The threat of intergroup conflict can also influence the space-use patterns of animals. To signal territorial ownership, dwarf mongooses deposit more scent marks in response to simulated rival intrusions, and meerkats tend to scent mark near burrows examined by intruders. Similarly, black howler monkeys return to locations of past contests, potentially to advertise their presence to neighbors. By contrast, Japanese macaques, chacma baboons, and long-tailed tits avoid areas inhabited by rivals. 

Beyond space-use patterns within a commonly used area, a more extreme preemptive behavior is raiding—actively seeking out rivals on their home turf. For example, male chimpanzees silently invade neighboring territories in single file and move toward other groups’ vocalizations, apparently preparing to attack rivals. Banded mongooses also engage in lethal gang attacks, conducting raids to kill the offspring of rival groups. 

When the threat from outsiders is greater, various mammal species stay closer to one another. For instance, chimpanzees groom and play with one another more in advance of collective territory defense. Such behaviors likely facilitate communication, reduce anxiety, enhance bonding, and promote a stronger fighting force. 

“There is increasing evidence that non-human animals adjust various behaviors to enhance information gathering, incentivize contest participation, reduce anxiety, and minimize collective and individual risk in anticipation of encounters with rival groups,” Arbon says. “What is notable is that these behaviors occur across a diverse range of social species.” 

According to the authors, questions for future research include examining how animals assess the intergroup threat level and adjust their preemptive behavior accordingly. The cognitive demands associated with preemptive actions also remain unclear. These responses are shaped by multiple interacting factors, including sensed information and memories of past encounters. 

“Intergroup conflict could be an important social driver of cognitive evolution,” Radford says. “But this remains an idea that is difficult to test, and teasing apart the relative importance of signals and cues from memories is a challenge.” 

“To understand fully the influence and importance of intergroup conflict, including for our own evolution, we must study the complete timeline of behaviors, not just those during and after contests but also those that occur in anticipation,” Arbon says. 

### 

This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council.  

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Arbon & Radford, “Pre-emptive behavior in a landscape of intergroup conflict” https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/fulltext/S0169-5347(26)00145-X 

Trends in Ecology & Evolution (@Trends_Ecol_Evo), published by Cell Press, is a monthly review journal that contains polished, concise, and readable reviews and opinion pieces in all areas of ecology and evolutionary science. It aims to keep scientists informed of new developments and ideas across the full range of ecology and evolutionary biology—from the pure to the applied, and from molecular to global. Visit http://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution. To receive Cell Press media alerts, please contact press@cell.com.  

A meerkat acting as a sentinel (raised guard) to gather information about potential threats.

Credit

Andy Radford, University of Bristol

---

Journal

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

DOI

10.1016/j.tree.2026.06.002 

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Pre-emptive behavior in a landscape of intergroup conflict

Article Publication Date

16-Jul-2026