Announcements
30 April 2025
Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller Share the 2024 Tu Youyou Award
We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
 Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA |
Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed. |
| “Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee |
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 Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany |
Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature. |
| “The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee |
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The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.
2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:
- Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):
- Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
- Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
- Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
- Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
- Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
- Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
- Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.
About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.
20 May 2025
World Bee Day 2025—“Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish Us All”, 20 May 2025
World Bee Day, commemorated annually on the 20th of May, was established to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators, as well as to promote the coordinated development of sustainable agriculture and ecological protection. This year's theme is “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all”. As the most critical pollinator in nature, bees directly influence global crop yields and have a profound impact on food security, biodiversity, and economic value chains. The contributions made by bees and other pollinators are closely connected to all of us. However, due to factors such as habitat destruction, the widespread use of pesticides, and climate change, global bee colonies and other pollinators are experiencing a significant decline in population.
MDPI encourages the use of open academic exchange platforms offered by journals from Biology & Life Sciences subject such as Agriculture, Animals, Biology, Conservation, Ecologies, Foods, Insects and Life to promote innovation and practical application in the field of pollinator protection. Research published in these journals is freely accessible to the public. We look forward to leveraging scientific knowledge to help safeguard this fragile link that sustains the Earth's life-support network.
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“Climate Change Influences on Central European Insect Fauna over the Last 50 Years: Mediterranean Influx and Non-Native Species”
by Attila Haris, Zsolt Józan, Péter Schmidt, Gábor Glemba, Bogdan Tomozii, György Csóka, Anikó Hirka, Peter Šima and Sándor Tóth
Ecologies 2025, 6(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies6010016
“Comparative Study of the Effect of Pollen Substitute Diets on Honey Bees during Early Spring”
by Hyunjee Kim, Olga Frunze, Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro, Myeong-Lyeol Lee, Jeong-Hyeon Lee
and Hyung-Wook Kwon
Insects 2024, 15(2), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020101
“Decoding the Behavior of a Queenless Colony Using Sound Signals”
by Dimitrios Kanelis, Vasilios Liolios, Fotini Papadopoulou, Maria-Anna Rodopoulou, Dimitrios Kampelopoulos, Kostas Siozios and Chrysoula Tananaki
Biology 2023, 12(11), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111392
“Conservation of Local Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in Southeastern Turkey: A Preliminary Study for Morphological Characterization and Determination of Colony Performance”
by Atilla Oztokmak, Gonca Ozmen Ozbakir and Oznur Çaglar
Animals 2023, 13(13), 2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132194
“Survey Results of Honey Bee Colony Losses in Winter in China (2009–2021)”
by Jiao Tang, Congcong Ji, Wei Shi, Songkun Su, Yunbo Xue, Jinshan Xu, Xiao Chen, Yazhou Zhao and Chao Chen
Insects 2023, 14(6), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14060554
“Application of a Quality-Specific Environmental Risk Index for the Location of Hives in Areas with Different Pollution Impacts”
by Daniel Signorelli, Luigi Jacopo D’Auria, Antonio Di Stasio, Alfonso Gallo, Augusto Siciliano, Mauro Esposito, Alessandra De Felice and Giuseppe Rofrano
Agriculture 2023, 13(5), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13050998
“Expression Profile, Regulatory Network, and Putative Role of microRNAs in the Developmental Process of Asian Honey Bee Larval Guts”
by Xiaoxue Fan, Wende Zhang, Sijia Guo, Leran Zhu, Yiqiong Zhang, Haodong Zhao, Xuze Gao, Haibin Jiang, Tianze Zhang, Dafu Chen et al.
Insects 2023, 14(5), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14050469
“Pollen as Bee Medicine: Is Prevention Better than Cure?”
by Maryse Vanderplanck, Lucie Marin, Denis Michez and Antoine Gekière
Biology 2023, 12(4), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12040497
Special Issues:
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“The Impact of Environmental Factors and Pesticides on Bee Behavior” |
“Losses, Health and Wellbeing of Honey Bees Across the World” |
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“Pollen Production and Nutrient Composition in Two Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars: Implications for Pollinator Nutrition”
by Priyadarshini Chakrabarti, Lauren Baugus, Ethan Eaton, Nathalie A. Steinhauer and Ramesh R. Sagili
Agriculture 2025, 15(5), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15050461
“Further Insights on Honey and Propolis from Gerês (Portugal) and Their Bioactivities: Unraveling the Impact of Beehive Relocation”
by Ana Sofia Freitas, Rui Oliveira, and Cristina Almeida-Aguiar
Life 2024, 14(4), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/life14040506
“Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Melittin Peptides Derived from Apis mellifera and Apis florea Venom”
by Pichet Praphawilai, Thida Kaewkod, Sureeporn Suriyaprom, Aussara Panya, Terd Disayathanoowat and Yingmanee Tragoolpua
Insects 2024, 15(2), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15020109
“Chemical and Functional Characterization of Propolis Collected from Different Areas of South Italy”
by Aliki Kapazoglou, Maria Gerakari, Efstathia Lazaridi, Konstantina Kleftogianni, Efi Sarri, Eleni Tani and Penelope J. Bebeli
Foods 2023, 12(18), 3481; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12183481
“Exploring Consumers’ Preferences and Attitudes to Honey: Generation Approach in Slovakia”
by Peter Šedík, Martina Hudecová and Kristína Predanócyová
Foods 2023, 12(10), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12101941
“Linking Beekeepers’ and Farmers’ Preferences towards Pollination Services in Greek Kiwi Systems”
by Elie Abou Nader, Georgios Kleftodimos, Leonidas Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Christina Kleisiari, Nicola Gallai, Salem Darwich, Tristan Berchoux, George Vlontzos and Hatem Belhouchette
Animals 2023, 13(5), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050806
Special Issues:
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“Recent Advances and Opportunities of Honey & Bee Products” |
“Application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Precision Beekeeping” |
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14 May 2025
Insects | Notable Papers in the Section “Insect Physiology, Reproduction and Development”
13 May 2025
Empowering Academic Growth with MDPI: A Scientific Publishing Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, 15 May 2025
MDPI is excited to collaborate with Toronto Metropolitan University to host an engaging Scientific Publishing Workshop aimed at empowering scholars with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in academic publishing. This workshop will delve into the key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing framework, offering an in-depth exploration of journal selection, the editorial workflow, and the essentials of publication ethics. Participants will also gain practical advice on improving their scientific writing and effectively addressing reviewer comments, with guidance from an experienced professional. This session promises to equip attendees with valuable skills to elevate their publishing journey.
Workshop Highlights:
- Learn How to Better Write and Structure a Research Article;
- How to Choose Where to Publish Academic Work;
- How to Respond to Reviewer Comments;
- Reasons for Rejection During Pre-Check;
- How to Navigate Through Ethics and AI Use.
Date: 15 May 2025
Time: 12:00–1:30 p.m.
Venue: Toronto Metropolitan University
Program:
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Speakers |
Program and Content |
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Dr. Stephen Mora |
Introduction to MDPI |
12:00–12:05 p.m. |
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How to Write and Structure a Research Article |
12:05–12:45 p.m. |
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How to Respond to Reviewer Comments |
12:45–1:30 p.m. |
30 April 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #22 - 300 Journals in WoS, Norway & Sweden Consortiums, Self-citations
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Over 300 MDPI Journals are Indexed in Web of Science
Indexing is essential to scholarly publishing as it promotes visibility and the impact of research. I’m excited to share that MDPI now has over 300 journals indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). This milestone reflects the work of our authors, editors, reviewers, and the entire MDPI staff, contributing to greater visibility and impact for open access research.
Publish with MDPI, publish with impact.
Having over 300 MDPI journals indexed in the Web of Science is more than a numbers game. It represents a recognition of the quality, consistency, and relevance of the research published in our journals. For the academic community, it reflects the growing trust in MDPI as a reputable publisher, leading the way in open access publishing.
A closer look at the achievement
Being indexed in the WoS nvolves meeting a list of quality criteria, including 24 quality benchmarks for ESCI journals.
For MDPI, rigorous editorial standards and scientific integrity are key. These enabled over 300 journals to pass the Web of Science quality criteria for indexing.
Here we share a blog post discussing the importance of this milestone for MDPI and open scholarly research. In this post, Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing, at MDPI, and Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead, share their thoughts and insights on what this achievement means for our commitment to high-quality research.
“MDPI has a well-structured quality assurance framework that applies to all our journals. We also apply clear, standardized peer-review policies across our portfolio, ensuring transparency and consistency.” – Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing
“This achievement is a step forward for Open Access research, reinforcing the mission to share scientific knowledge globally and facilitate research progress.” – Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead
Read the blog here: https://blog.mdpi.com/2025/04/03/300-mdpi-journals/
Looking to the future
This milestone is a testament to MDPI’s dedication to peer review, editorial excellence, and innovation in academic publishing. It highlights our role as leaders in open access publishing.
Personally, I see this as just the beginning. We will continue to support researchers, expand our contributions to scholarly communication, and push the boundaries of academic publishing.
Impactful Research
Nearly 920 partner institutions in MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program
I’m pleased to share some exciting progress from MDPI's Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), which now includes nearly 920 partner institutions worldwide. This is more than just a number. It reflects the growing trust and collaboration we’ve built with universities, libraries, and research organizations across the globe.
The IOAP offers institutions discounted Article Processing Charges (APCs), access to a dedicated institutional dashboard, and transparency throughout the publishing process.
Norway’s Sikt Consortium Renews national agreement with MDPI
MDPI has renewed its national agreement with the Sikt Consortium, which now supports 36 institutions across Norway. New partners, such as Kristiania University of Applied Sciences, join long-standing collaborators such as NTNU, the University of Bergen, and UiT, The Arctic University of Norway. The agreement promotes affordable, high-quality open access publishing through centralized APC funding, and reinforces Norway’s leadership in open science.
These agreements reflect MDPI’s mission to remove barriers to scientific publishing and make research freely available to all. By collaborating with national consortia and institutions, we advance the open access and strengthen our global network and collaborations.
Our IOAP Team
A big thank-you to our IOAP team for driving these important collaborations. Their work includes increasing MDPI’s visibility in scholarly communications, strengthening relationships with IOAP partners, and building trust with key stakeholders.
These efforts not only help researchers to publish their work openly and affordably but also reinforce MDPI’s position as a trusted leader in open access.
What are the benefits of MDPI’s IOAP?
For Authors: Researchers affiliated with IOAP partner institutions benefit from automatic discounts on APCs, Book Processing Charges (BPCs), JAMS, and Author Services across MDPI’s journals. The process is seamless as there is no need for codes or special applications. The publishing experience is smoother and more affordable, and centralized invoicing helps simplify the process, allowing authors to focus on their research rather than administration.
For Libraries: Participating libraries receive access to a dedicated institutional dashboard with live metadata on submissions from affiliated authors, past and present. They also benefit from flexible invoicing options (direct, collective, or prepayment) to help streamline administration, while clear, transparent agreements ensure that there are no hidden clauses or small print. Automated deposits into Institutional Repositories further reduce manual work, supporting libraries in their mission to advance open access and serve their research communities.
Inside MDPI
MDPI Self-citation study shows industry alignment
Earlier this month, Dr. Giulia Stefenelli and Dr. Enric Sayas published a thoughtful and transparent article on the ALPSP blog, presenting a self-citation analysis across MDPI’s 237 journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).
They found that MDPI's average self-citation rate in 2024 was 14.85%, well within industry norms and ranking 6th among the top ten publishers. Only 2.3% of MDPI journals were identified as outliers with high self-citation rates, compared to 4.7% among other leading publishers. An alternative approach, using weighted average by publication volume, shows MDPI’s self-citation rate rises from 14% to 19.7%, shifting our rank from 6th to 3rd. The study also shows that the impact of self-citation on journal quartile placement is minimal.
Read the full article on the ALPSP blog: https://blog.alpsp.org/2025/03/mdpi-self-citations-study-highlights.html
Why is this important?
As explained in the full article, the results “reinforce the fact that self-citations have minimal influence on MDPI journal rankings, emphasizing the integrity of editorial practices and the absence of any deliberate efforts to manipulate impact.”
Self-citation is a hot topic, and MDPI is sometimes unfairly singled out in this area. This analysis helps put some perspective to that narrative.
At MDPI, we are committed to transparency and to using data-driven insights to address common misconceptions about open access publishing. Our focus on self-citation reflects this commitment, and we plan to extend our efforts to other areas where the Gold OA model is often misunderstood.
About the authors
Dr. Giulia Stefenelli, Scientific Communications Lead, leverages her expertise in science communication, editorial processes, and Open Access (OA) promotion to address both institutional and country-specific challenges. She collaborates with teams across PR, Editorial Procedures, Institutional Partnerships, Research Integrity, AI and more, developing strategies to engage stakeholders, including policymakers, academics, and industry leaders. Her responsibilities include enhancing MDPI’s scientific network and promoting OA initiatives at events worldwide, supporting the efforts of various departments, and ensuring effective communication to both specialist and broader audiences.
Dr. Enric Sayas is a Business Analyst specializing in the integration of AI and Machine Learning in scientific publishing.
Within MDPI’s AI team, Enric combines his editorial expertise with his passion for AI to support the development of AI-driven solutions tailored to editorial needs, enhancing efficiency and improving decision-making.
Enric’s interests extend to data science methodologies applied to scientific publishing, as well as the broader impact of AI on open science, peer review, and the future of scientific publishing.
Coming Together for Science
Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security
Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando presenting at Plants 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
The MDPI Conference Plants 2025: From Seeds to Food Security took place in Barcelona, Spain, from 31 March to 2 April 2025.
It was chaired by Editor-in-Chief of MDPI journal Plants (Q1 journal); Prof. Dr. Dilantha Fernando from the University of Manitoba, in Canada, and Section Editor-in-Chief of Plants; Dr. Fermín Morales from Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB) – CSIC, in Spain; and Prof. Dr. Oscar Vicente from Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in Spain.
The conference brought plant scientists together to discuss innovations in sustainable agriculture, crop improvement, and environmental conservation.
With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the conference addressed key challenges such as food security, climate change, and sustainable agroecosystems through keynote talks and seven specialized sessions.
The conference gathered 111 attendees from 36 different countries, featuring 1 keynote speaker, 9 invited speakers, and 41 selected talks, along with 56 posters. The event received just over 200 submissions and 102 accepted abstracts.
From insightful talks, engaging poster sessions and engaging networking moments, Plants 2025 was a special experience. You can relive the highlights from the Plants 2025 conference here with our after movie!
Awards
Four awards were presented at the conclusion of the conference, sponsored by the journal Plants: two Best Poster Awards (€250 each) and two Best Oral Presentation Awards (€300 each).
Plants 2025 Conference Team
The Plants 2025 Conference was organized by colleagues from MDPI’s Conference Team: Ana Sanchis (Conference Manager), Cédric Spinnler (Senior Conference Organizer), Raquel Sellès (Conference Organizer) and Laura Perez (Conference Assistant).
Upcoming event
5–7 May 2025
The 2nd International Electronic Conference on Metals
Location: Online event (Central European Summer Time)
As one of the pillar technologies that support the development of modern society and metallurgy, IECME 2025 will present the state-of-the-art of Metallurgy and Metals.
Find more upcoming MDPI events here.
Closing Thoughts
Swedish consortium renews partnership with MDPI
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has renewed its national partnership with Sweden’s Bibsam Consortium. This is a continued commitment to advancing open access publishing and supporting Sweden’s vision for fully open research.
Under this renewed agreement, 22 leading institutions including KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, Linnaeus University, and Linköping University, will continue to benefit from MDPI’s IOAP. This provides discounts on APCs and a more streamlined, researcher-friendly publishing experience.
MDPI and Bibsam renew national agreement for Sweden
“With robust backing from national open science guidelines, Sweden’s open-access landscape is rapidly advancing,” says Becky Castellon, institutional partnerships manager at MDPI.
“In fact, fewer than 15% of all Swedish research outputs were locked behind paywalls in 2023. We are passionate about the positive impact our ongoing partnership with the Bibsam Consortium will have on Swedish research, paving the way for ground-breaking developments and a more inclusive, open scientific community. Through flexible solutions and tailored policies, we enable institutions to prioritize research, foster innovation, and enhance accessibility, driving the shift to full open access.”
Recent MDPI IOAP Consortium signings from 2025:
- The UK’s Jisc Consortium extended its national agreement, continuing support for more than 60 institutions across the UK.
- Switzerland’s CSAL (Consortium of Swiss Academic Libraries) renewed its agreement, continuing our collaboration with top institutions such as ETH Zurich and EPFL Lausanne.
- In Germany, we signed a new national agreement with ZB MED that includes over 100 universities and research institutions, with 78 institutions joining under a central or flat-fee model to simplify APC coverage.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 April 2025
Announcing the Award Committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award
We are honored to introduce the award committee for the 2024 Tu Youyou Award, composed of distinguished scientists from around the world whose research covers diverse areas of natural product chemistry, pharmacognosy, and drug discovery. Their broad expertise and pioneering contributions have significantly advanced medicinal and natural products research.
Through their collective insights, rigorous evaluation, the committee has carefully selected this year’s award recipients, recognizing exceptional achievements in the field.
We sincerely thank these distinguished scholars for their efforts and dedication to upholding the standards of the Tu Youyou Award. Below is the list of committee members. For more information about the Tu Youyou Award, please visit https://tuyouyouprize.org/.
Chair:
 Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn Ohio State University, USA |
Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn is a leading expert in pharmacognosy and natural products research. He is recognized for his key contributions to discovering bioactive compounds from plants, especially in anticancer, cancer chemopreventive, and substances with a sweet taste and taste-modifying agents. His prolific contributions include over 590 peer-reviewed works and book chapters and edited or co-edited 40 scientific volumes. |
 Prof. Angelo Fontana University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy |
Angelo Fontana is a Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Naples “Federico II” in Italy and serves as Director of the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry at the National Research Council (CNR). His research focuses on bioactive small molecules derived from marine eukaryotes, with a particular interest on their pharmaceutical applications in immunology and oncology. He also explores their potential as molecular tools for probing and modulating complex biological systems. Prof. Fontana is a co-founder of BioSEArch SRL and has been recognized with numerous grants and honors, including the Apivita Award from the Phytochemical Society of Europe. |
 Prof. Binghe Wang Georgia State University, USA |
Prof. Binghe Wang’s lab works on drug design, drug delivery, click chemistry, chemical biology, new diagnostics, and gaseous signaling molecules such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. His interdisciplinary research supports advances in cancer, infectious diseases, organ protection, inflammation, and other areas. |
 Dr. Diana Pinto University of Aveiro, Portugal |
Dr. Diana Pinto, an Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, specializes in organic synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, sustainable catalysis (organo-, heterogeneous, and biocatalysis), and natural product research, including isolation, characterization, and total synthesis. |
 Prof. Hideaki Kakeya Kyoto University, Japan |
Prof. Hideaki Kakeya conducts cutting-edge research in chemical biology, high-throughput screening, and biosynthesis of bioactive natural products for system chemotherapy and other therapeutic applications. |
 Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel University of Strathclyde, UK |
Prof. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel heads the Natural Products Metabolomics Group (NPMG), specializing in marine natural products discovery and metabolomics-driven drug development. A recognized expert in bioactive metabolites, she collaborates with industry and academia to address antimicrobial resistance and sustainable bioprospecting. She serves on the Editorial Board of Marine Drugs and holds two patents in the field. |
 Prof. Thomas Prisinzano University of Kentucky, USA |
Prof. Thomas Prisinzano combines medicinal and natural product chemistry to explore neurotransmitter systems and develop treatments for drug abuse and pain. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Innovator Award from the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. |
 Prof. Wei Li University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA |
A distinguished professor and Director of the Drug Discovery Center, Prof. Wei Li is also the founder of SEAK Therapeutics, and the 2025 Chair-Elect of the Drug Discovery and Development Division of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). His work focuses on medicinal chemistry and small molecule drug discovery, with over 200 publications and 15 issued US patents. |
30 April 2025
Honoring Exceptional Editorial Board Members of Insects
The Editorial Office owes much of the success and esteemed reputation of Insects (ISSN: 2075-4450) to the unwavering dedication and expertise of our Editorial Board Members (EBMs). Their hard work, insightful guidance, and commitment to academic excellence are deeply appreciated and form the backbone of the journal’s continued progress.
We are delighted to recognize and celebrate three EBMs who have made exceptional contributions throughout 2024. Their efforts have been instrumental in upholding the journal’s high international standards, ensuring rigorous peer review, and advancing the field of entomology through their outstanding service.
At the same time, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all other EBMs who have generously contributed their time, expertise, and support to the journal. Every manuscript reviewed, every suggestion made, and every bit of guidance offered plays a vital role in our collective success.
We also warmly welcome more outstanding scholars to join our Editorial Board. Together, we can continue to build an inclusive, forward-thinking academic community and further elevate the impact of Insects on the global stage.
Name: Prof. Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Associate Editor
Affiliation: Agricultural University of Athens, Greece
Biography
Prof. Dr. Nickolas G. Kavallieratos is an Associate Professor of agricultural entomology and acarology at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Greece. From 2002–2014, he was a researcher at the Benaki Phytopathological Institute (BPI), serving in all scientific ranks and administration positions (Head of the Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Head of the Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, and Deputy Director) at the BPI. He has also worked at several universities and institutes in Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia. He studies morphology, morphometry, systematics, zoogeography, phylogeny, genetics, and behavior of the Aphidiinae (Braconidae) parasitoids of aphids, providing descriptions of new species in science, redescriptions of species and genera, revisions of genera, and reviews around the world (Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America) since 1994. The overall outcome of his research deals with the generation of tools that enable entomologists to identify Aphidiinae parasitoids with ease in different types of habitats, host plants, and host aphids. Since 2000, he has also been working on the biology, ecology, demography, behavior, and management of stored product pests (insects, mites) with the use of natural (diatomaceous earths and other inert dusts) and biological agents (entomopathogenic fungi, entomopathogenic nematodes, bacteria), chemical insecticides, and novel chemical or natural compounds (essential oils, botanical molecules, nanoemulsions, microemulsions) that exhibit insecticidal properties. Prof. Dr. Kavallieratos has published over 360 papers in peer-reviewed journals and coordinated more than 40 projects.
Message from the Editor
The implementation of scientific study requires several steps. First, excellent knowledge of global literature, originating mainly from papers, books, chapters in books, and conferences, is needed. The design of the experiment follows on the basis of the gaps of the scientific bibliography. Hypotheses and objectives should be clear to prove the novelty of the study. Then, the necessary materials should be available, and methods should be developed meticulously. The results obtained must then be properly analyzed and discussed considering relevant references. The conclusions briefly present the final outcome of the overall effort. In several cases, national teams closely collaborate with international teams within the framework of projects to complete the study. Scientists may need to travel to foreign laboratories to improve their skills in relation to certain methods or to conduct a part of their study. Funding is important at this point. There are numerous cases of interactions among scientists that lead to the successful completion of their research work. Once the plans for the experiment are clearly established, a discussion among the authors will begin regarding the target journal that will host the study. Degrees of freedom are numerous in entomology since there are very good entomological journals, having high scientific standards and covering general or specialized scientific disciplines. The journal Insects covers a wide spectrum of entomology, as presented in its aims and evident in the content it produces. Furthermore, Insects offers numerous advantages relating to modern journal standards, e.g., elevated Impact Factor, ranking in Quartile 1, a fast review process from reviewers and Editors, the timely publication of accepted papers, providing qualitative pdf reprints, being open access, offering awards to young scientists to travel and conduct their studies, and recognizing reviewers/authors. Based on my experience, entomology is a science that attracts young people to carry out research in the laboratory, in the field, or in both, aiming to reveal the secrets of the enigmatic world of insects through their papers.
Name: Prof. Dr. Christos G. Athanassiou, Section Board Member
Affiliation: University of Thessaly, Greece
Biography
Prof. Dr. Christos Athanassiou has been a professor at the University of Thessaly, Greece, since 2010, while between 2008 and 2009 he worked at the USDA-ARS Grain Marketing and Production Research Center. His research is focused on insect biology and detection, pest management, chemical and non-chemical control of insect pests in different ecosystems, the utilization of insects as food and feed, and in waste management. He is a co-author of over 500 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has co-edited 2 books. He also currently serves as a consultant/expert in several organizations, such as the United Nations/FAO, USAID/CNFA, IAEA, Plant Health Australia, etc. He has received several awards from different bodies, such as the Fulbright Foundation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Institute for International Education (IIE/OLF), etc. Since 2015, he has served as the Editor in Chief/Subject Editor of several international journals. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Convenor of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC/WPRS). For the last twenty years, he has been a coordinator, PI, co-PI, etc., in over 120 national and international research projects, funded by different organizations (Horizon Europe, LIFE, PRIMA, ERA-NET, NIFA, IAEA, EFSA, etc.) and various industries. He has received several awards from different international organizations, such as the Fulbright Foundation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Institute of International Education (IIE), etc.
Message from the Editor
Submit. Review. Edit. Improve. Repeat. For a scientist for whom research is a main focus, this is their everyday routine. In scientific writing, commitment is the most important component, but consistency is the most valuable. This is particularly evident when a scientist becomes an editor in a scientific journal; in this case, the meaning of consistency is expanded to include dedication, resilience, and equal opportunities in publishing. In the fascinating world of entomology, which covers a wide range of topics, an editor’s role is unique, since they are dealing with topics related to the dominant form of life on earth and the namesake of this journal: Insects. Being an editor of an entomological journal, you become a member of a big international family, that of entomologists, disseminating key findings for those in the future to further utilize in aid of humans and the environment. The study of entomology is the beginning of a never-ending journey.
Name: Prof. Gianfranco Anfora, Section Board Member
Affiliation: University of Trento, Italy
Biography
Prof. Gianfranco Anfora is a Full Professor of General and Applied Entomology at the Center Agriculture, Food and Environment (C3A), University of Trento, Italy. His research centers on insect communication and chemical ecology, combining molecular, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches to identify semiochemicals and develop integrated pest management and biological control programs for grapevine and fruit crops. He has published more than 140 peer-reviewed papers. He holds numerous institutional positions and is currently the coordinator of the Bachelor’s degree program in viticulture and oenology. He is involved, as either coordinator or participant, in numerous national and international research projects and in collaborations with companies in the agri-food sector. Since 2020, he has served as an Editorial Board Member of Insects and has co-edited Special Issues on Advances in Chemical Ecology of Plant–Insect Interactions and on Combining Biological Control and Sterile Insect Technique to Enhance Invasive Pest Species Management.
Message from the Editor
Receiving this award for my service as part of the Insects editorial committee is a great honor. It underscores the importance of rigorous, transparent, and timely peer review in advancing our collective understanding of entomology. As an Editorial Board Member, I am committed to fostering constructive dialog between authors and reviewers, ensuring that each manuscript undergoes a fair and thorough evaluation while maintaining the highest scientific standards.
Insects plays a pivotal role in disseminating cutting-edge research in chemical ecology, integrated pest management, and biological control. By upholding a streamlined review process and embracing open access, our journal enables the rapid sharing of new insights with the global community. I remain dedicated to supporting authors, especially early career researchers, and to celebrating excellence through awards and Special Issues that highlight emerging innovations.
28 April 2025
Insects Exceptional Reviewers List 2025
24 April 2025
World Malaria Day—“Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, 25 April 2025
World Malaria Day, observed annually on 25 April, is a global reminder of the urgent need to stay focused on the fight against malaria—a preventable and treatable disease that still threatens millions of lives, especially in vulnerable communities. Despite considerable progress over the past two decades, malaria continues to take a heavy toll, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where children under five remain at most risk.
The theme for 2025, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, is a powerful call to action. It is a strong reminder that the fight against malaria is not over, and that the power to end it lies with all of us.
In recognition of this vital cause, MDPI is spotlighting impactful research across a selection of its journals, highlighting contributions that advance the understanding, prevention, and treatment of malaria. Featured journals include Cells, Insects, Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM), Metabolites, Parasitologia, Pathogens, Pharmaceuticals, Reports, and TropicalMed. By bringing these articles to the forefront, MDPI reaffirms its commitment to open access knowledge and global health equity.
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Prof. Tu Youyou was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for discovering artemisinin, a drug that has significantly reduced the mortality rates for patients suffering from malaria.
To honor Prof. Tu Youyou’s remarkable contributions and to continue with her achievements, MDPI established the Tu Youyou Award in 2016. This award aims to acknowledge exceptional scholars committed to the research fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.
The winners of the 2024 Tu Youyou Award will be announced on 30 April. Visit the award website for the latest updates!
“Blood Source and Anesthetics Effects on the Maintenance of Anopheles darlingi in the Lab-Rearing Condition”
by José Daniel Costa Pontual, Natália Vitória Coelho, Najara Akira Costa dos Santos, Alessandra da Silva Bastos, Jéssica Evangelista Araújo, Alice Oliveira Andrade, Jansen Fernandes Medeiros and Maisa da Silva Araujo
Insects 2025, 16(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16030281
“Identification of Bioactive Metabolites of Capirona macrophylla by Metabolomic Analysis, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Antiparasitic Assays”
by Joseph Evaristo, Elise de Laia, Bruna Tavares, Esdras Mendonça, Larissa Grisostenes, Caroline Rodrigues, Welington do Nascimento, Carolina Garcia, Sheila Guterres, Fábio Nogueira et al.
Metabolites 2025, 15(3), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15030157
“Duplication of a Type-P5B-ATPase in Laverania and Avian Malaria Parasites and Implications About the Evolution of Plasmodium”
by Mark F. Wiser
Parasitologia 2025, 5(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia5010006
“Effect of Health Education Intervention on Knowledge and Adherence to Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy Among Women”
by Pauline N. Atser, Gommaa Hayat and Uchenna B. Okafor
Healthcare 2025, 13(2), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020105
“Uncovering the Mechanism of Action of Antiprotozoal Agents: A Survey on Photoaffinity Labeling Strategy”
by Alessandro Giraudo, Cristiano Bolchi, Marco Pallavicini, Roberto Di Santo, Roberta Costi and Francesco Saccoliti
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18010028
“Contribution of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Studies to the Understanding of Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis”
by Alicia Comino Garcia-Munoz, Isabelle Varlet, Georges Emile Grau, Teodora-Adriana Perles-Barbacaru and Angèle Viola
Pathogens 2024, 13(12), 1042; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13121042
“Prophylaxis Failure and Successful Management of Delayed-Onset Malaria with Renal Complications: A Case Report with Oral Artemether-Lumefantrine Treatment”
by Ilir Tolaj, Gramoz Bunjaku, Murat Mehmeti and Yllka Begolli
Reports 2023, 6(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/reports6040053
“Sensitivity Assessment of a Multiplex and Real-Time PCR Protocols for the Detection of Malaria in External Quality Control Samples in the Malaria Reference Center in Greece”
by Nikolaos Tegos, Christos Goumenopoulos, Anastasia Mpimpa, Vasilios Papavasilopoulos, Stavroula Beleri and Eleni Patsoula
Parasitologia 2024, 4(2), 150-161; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia4020013
“Prevention of Malaria in Pregnant Women and Its Effects on Maternal and Child Health, the Case of Centre Hospitalier de Kingasani II in the Democratic Republic of the Congo”
by Japhet Kabalu Tshiongo, Trésor Zola Matuvanga, Patrick Mitashi, Vivi Maketa, Henk D. F. H. Schallig, Petra F. Mens, Hypolite Muhindo Mavoko and Junior Matangila Rika
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(5), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9050092
“An Epidemiological Survey of Malaria Infection in Espírito Santo State, Brazil, from 2007 to 2017”
by Nayna Carvalho Oliveira, Lais Rosa Boscalha, Cinthia Emerich Toledo, Felipe Sarlo Pezzin, Bruno Costanza Cisari, Suellen Rodrigues Maran, Laís Rodrigues Diniz, Pedro Henrique Schultz Corcino Freitas, Adenilton Cruzeiro, Frederico Eutropio et al.
Parasitologia 2023, 3(3), 215-222; https://doi.org/10.3390/parasitologia3030022
“Low Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 and 3 Gene Deletions—A Multiregional Study in Central and West Africa”
by Tina Krueger, Moses Ikegbunam, Abel Lissom, Thaisa Lucas Sandri, Jacques Dollon Mbama Ntabi, Jean Claude Djontu, Marcel Tapsou Baina, Roméo Aimé Laclong Lontchi, Moustapha Maloum, Givina Zang Ella et al.
Pathogens 2023, 12(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12030455
“Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis”
by Liping Gao, Qi Shi, Zhiguo Liu, Zhenjun Li and Xiaoping Dong
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2023, 8(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed8010067
22 April 2025
International Mother Earth Day, 22 April 2025
Mother Earth is sending us an urgent call to action as nature suffers from the devastating impacts of human activity. Our oceans are choked with plastic and acidifying, while extreme heat, wildfires, and floods have disrupted millions of lives. Climate change, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture, illegal wildlife trade, and other human-driven disruptions are accelerating the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity. As we mark the third Mother Earth Day within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, it is clear that healthy ecosystems are vital for all life on Earth. Restoring damaged ecosystems can help end poverty, fight climate change, and prevent mass extinction, but success depends on everyone playing their part. Together, we must act now to heal our planet and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
On this significant day, we are proud to present a curated collection of articles and initiatives dedicated to groundbreaking research and innovative solutions for protecting and restoring our planet. As we celebrate Mother Earth and reflect on the urgent need for action, these contributions highlight critical efforts to combat climate change, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainability. We invite readers to explore these resources and join us in our shared mission to safeguard the health of our planet for future generations. Together, we can make a lasting impact and ensure a thriving, resilient Earth for all.
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Environmental & Earth Sciences |
Biology & Life Sciences |
Keynote Speakers
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Prof. Károly Németh Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, New Zealand |
Prof. Brendan Macke Griffith University, Australia |
“The Conservation of Biodiverse and Threatened Dry Rainforest Plant Communities Is Vital in a Changing Climate”
by Marion Howard, Hilary Pearl, Bill McDonald, Yoko Shimizu, Sanjeev Kumar Srivastava and Alison Shapcott
Conservation 2024, 4(4), 657-684; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation4040040
“Ten Years of Mediterranean Monk Seal Stranding Records in Greece under the Microscope: What Do the Data Suggest?”
by Maria Solanou, Aliki Panou, Irida Maina, Stefanos Kavadas and Marianna Giannoulaki
Animals 2024, 14(9), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091309
“Groundwater Temperature Stripes: A Simple Method to Communicate Groundwater Temperature Variations Due to Climate Change”
by Manuela Lasagna, Elena Egidio and Domenico Antonio De Luca
Water 2024, 16(5), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16050717
“Resilience of an Urban Coastal Ecosystem in the Caribbean: A Remote Sensing Approach in Western Puerto Rico”
by Yadiel Noel Bonilla-Roman and Salvador Francisco Acuña-Guzman
Earth 2024, 5(1), 72-89; https://doi.org/10.3390/earth5010004
“Particulate Matter in the American Southwest: Detection and Analysis of Dust Storms Using Surface Measurements and Ground-Based LIDAR”
by Joscelyne Guzman-Gonzalez, Rosa M. Fitzgerald, Nakul N. Karle, Ricardo K. Sakai and William R. Stockwell
Atmosphere 2024, 15(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15010110
“An Imported Environmental Crisis: Plastic Mismanagement in Africa”
by Gilbert Moyen Massa and Vasiliki-Maria Archodoulaki
Sustainability 2024, 16(2), 672; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020672
“The Effect of Habitat on Insect Movements: Experimental Evidence from Wild-Caught Butterflies”
by Matteo Marcantonio, Raluca Voda, Daniele Da Re, Quentin Igot, Roger L. H. Dennis, Aurélien Vielfaure, Sophie O. Vanwambeke and Caroline M. Nieberding
Insects 2023, 14(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14090737
“Artificial Reefs around the World: A Review of the State of the Art and a Meta-Analysis of Its Effectiveness for the Restoration of Marine Ecosystems”
by Carolina Bracho-Villavicencio, Helena Matthews-Cascon and Sergio Rossi
Environments 2023, 10(7), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10070121
“Topography, Slope and Geomorphology’s Influences on Shoreline Dynamics along Dakar’s Southern Coast, Senegal”
by Ibrahima Pouye, Dieudonné Pessièzoum Adjoussi, Jacques André Ndione and Amadou Sall
Coasts 2023, 3(1), 93-112; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts3010006
“Potential Use of Industrial Biomass Waste as a Sustainable Energy Source in the Future”
by Tomasz Kalak
Energies 2023, 16(4), 1783; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16041783
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“Nature-Based Solutions to Extreme Wildfires” Guest Editor: Adrián Regos Submission deadline: 15 June 2025 |
“Impact of Environmental Factors and Management Practices on Bee Health - 2nd Edition” Guest Editors: Ivana Tlak Gajger and Franco Mutinelli |
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