MED researchers attend the 36th Congress of the European Society of Nematologists

MED was represented at the 36th Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists (ESN), held from 1 to 5 June 2026 in Egmond aan Zee, the Netherlands, one of Europe’s leading forums dedicated to research in nematology. The delegation included researchers Cláudia Vicente and Margarida Espada, and PhD student Madalena Mendonça, from NemaLab – the Nematology Laboratory at MED-UÉvora.
Awarded a travel grant and recognised for the quality of her work, Madalena Mendonça presented her findings in an oral presentation and co-chaired the Effector Biology session. The PhD student also served on the jury evaluating oral presentations by early-career students.
Cláudia Vicente and Margarida Espada also presented their scientific work during the congress. As a member of the society, Cláudia Vicente also served on the jury evaluating posters and oral presentations, contributing to the scientific dynamics of the event.
Participation in this congress reinforces the international visibility of NemaLab and MED, as well as the team’s integration into the European scientific community of nematology.

Papers presented:
• Madalena Mendonça – A transcription factor-duet works in concert to regulate gene expression across the life cycle of the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
• Margarida Espada – Characterisation of Long Intergenic Non-Coding RNA in the parasitism of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
• Cláudia Vicente – Potato Metabolomics for the control of the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans