MED research in the spotlight: article published in leading phytopathology journal
MED researchers, in collaboration with the USDA (USA), have just achieved an important milestone for Portuguese science. For the first time, Portuguese nematologists have been invited to publish in the Annual Review of Phytopathology, one of the most prestigious scientific journals in the field, with an impact factor of 11.9 in 2024 and ranked in Quartile 1 in Plant Science.
The review article, authored by MED researchers Margarida Espada and Cláudia Vicente and USDA researcher Paulo Vieira, presents an in-depth and up-to-date analysis of several studies on the biology of parasitism of migratory endoparasitic nematodes, microscopic organisms that pose a serious threat to agriculture and forests worldwide.
Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (omics technologies) have revealed a great deal of genomic diversity between species, enabling to understand their evolutionary adaptations and molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity. This “plasticity” allows them to adapt and survive in extreme conditions: from resisting toxins and defending themselves against environmental stress to entering states of “suspended life” to withstand long periods of adversity.
The study also reveals that the arsenal of proteins they use to invade and exploit plants is much more complex than previously thought, which explains their effectiveness as parasites.
These findings reinforce the need to continue researching these organisms with a view to developing innovative and effective control strategies, which are essential for protecting agricultural crops and global food security.
