Announcements

MDPI will be attending the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, which will be held from 1 to 5 June 2026 in Bologna, Italy, and online.

This prestigious meeting will bring together top experts from across Europe and beyond, united in their dedication to advancing the research, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases in children.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Pediatric Reports;
• Children;
• Vaccines;
• Journal of Clinical Medicine (JCM);
• International Journal of Translational Medicine (IJTM);
• Infectious Disease Reports;
• Germs;
• Hygiene;
• Diseases;
• Therapeutics;
• Pharmacy;
• Epidemiologia;
• Pathogens;
• TropicalMed;
• BioMed;
• Immuno.

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak with our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the official website at https://espidmeeting.org/.

Conference: ASM Microbe 2026
Date: 4–7 June 2026
Location: Washington, USA

MDPI will be attending the ASM Microbe 2026 as an exhibitor. We welcome researchers from different backgrounds to visit and share their latest ideas with us.

ASM Microbe 2026 is transforming the way we connect with science. For the first time, they are hosting three independent meetings under one roof and offering the most comprehensive access to cutting-edge research and experts driving discovery in your field.

Delve into your scientific community by attending 1 of 3 distinct meetings—Health, Applied & Environmental Microbiology or Mechanism Discovery. Each offers a focused, in-depth experience tailored to your field, providing the latest research, perspectives and developments shaping the future of microbial science. Wherever your expertise lies, you will find a meeting that speaks directly to your science at ASM Microbe.

1. Shape the Direction of Microbial Science: Collaborate with peers who are setting research agendas and driving progress across academia, industry and government. ASM Microbe brings together the most accomplished minds across disciplines to advance collective understanding and influence the future of microbial research and application.
2. Discover Tools, Ideas and Industry Innovations: Visit the dynamic exhibit hall where leading companies showcase the latest technologies, products and solutions. Connect with industry experts, gain insights into emerging tools and uncover opportunities to advance your research and applications.
3. Uncover the Latest Breakthroughs in Microbial Science: Explore the poster hall and cutting-edge abstracts to discover the newest findings presented by scientists from around the world. Gain insights that advance your research, spark new ideas and reveal trends shaping the future of the field.
4. Connect With the Brightest Minds: Build collaborations and form new partnerships across academia, industry and government. Network with peers and mentors who can challenge your thinking and amplify your science.
5. Be Part of the Conversation That Moves Science Forward: ASM Microbe 2026 brings together your community to present research, define priorities, share perspectives and accelerate discovery. From the leading experts shaping the field, to the rising stars driving the next generation of discoveries, this is where leaders convene, game-changing research is unveiled and the next era of microbial science takes shape.

The following open acess journals will be represented:

• Microorganisms;
• Fermentation;
• Life;
• JoF;
• Vaccines;
• Applied Microbiology;
• Aerobiology;
• Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease;
• Antibiotics;
• Microbiology Research;
• Zoonotic Diseases;
• Pathogens;
• Bacteria;
• Acta Microbiologica Hellenica.

If you are planning to attend this conference, please do not hesitate to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://asm.org/events/asm-microbe/home.

Conference: The American Society for Virology 45th Annual Meeting (ASV)
Date: 27–30 July 2026
Location: Minneapolis, USA

MDPI will attend the American Society for Virology 45th Annual Meeting (ASV) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Minneapolis, USA, from 27 to 30 July 2026. 

ASV meetings are among the largest and most important virology conferences in the world. These meetings provide a forum to promote discussion and collaboration among scientists active in all aspects of virology, from basic research to vaccines and antiviral therapeutics. The meeting attracts 1400-1800 national and international scientists for a program crafted from over 1000 participant-submitted abstracts, 17 invited symposium speakers, and 6 distinctive state-of-the-art speakers.

The following open access journals will be represented:

• Viruses;
• Pathogens;
• Biomolecules;
• Vaccines;
• COVID;
• Microorganisms;
• Immuno;
• BioMed;
• Germs;
• Microbiology Research.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.asv.org/asv2026.

Prof. Dr. Urban-Chmiel is a professor at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland. In this interview, she explains the aim of this review is to present the most common foodborne zoonoses and methods for reducing the occurrence of microbial contamination of food. She also shares the story behind the project, the challenge she faced and her advice for young researchers. The following is the interview with Prof. Dr. Urban-Chmiel:

In this interview, Dr. Katharios and Mr. Chalmoukis explain how they developed and characterized Vibrio harveyi strains tagged with green and red fluorescent proteins, providing a versatile tool for the real-time tracking of infection dynamics and strain-specific interactions in aquaculture hosts. They also shared the story behind the project, the long-term impact they envisions for this work, and other projects they are currently excited about.

The following is the interview with Dr. Katharios and Mr. Chalmoukis:

Dr. Sigrid C. Roberts is a Professor at the Pacific University School of Pharmacy in Oregon, USA. In this interview, Dr. Roberts explains how depleting putrescine in Leishmania donovani parasites immediately stops their growth and triggers an apoptosis-like cell death, revealing a promising drug target. She also shares the story behind the project, the biggest research challenge she faced, her experience publishing with the journal Pathogens (ISSN: 2076-0817), and her advice for younger researchers.

The following is the interview with Dr. Roberts:

We are honored to announce that Prof. Dr. William Gerwick will serve as the Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee.

A world-renowned authority in marine natural products chemistry and pharmacology, Professor Gerwick is a Distinguished Professor at both the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego (UCSD). His pioneering work at the intersection of ocean sciences and drug discovery makes him a fitting leader for an award centered on transformative medicinal breakthroughs.

Under Professor Gerwick’s stewardship, the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee will focus on recognizing innovative and impactful research in natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry, particularly work with the potential to drive meaningful advances in both scientific understanding and human health.

To provide further insight into his perspectives, we include below an interview with Professor Gerwick, in which he reflects on his scientific journey, his views on the field, and his vision for the Tu Youyou Award.

A Conversation with the Chair

1. Could you please introduce yourself and your research journey?

My research focuses on the natural products of marine algae and cyanobacteria, their application in medicine, their biosynthesis using genomic approaches, and innovative methods in the structure elucidation of natural products.

I received my BS degree from the University of California at Davis, my PhD from the University of California at San Diego, and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. After a couple of years in a junior faculty position at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, I spent 21 years as Professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. In 2005, I returned to my PhD institution at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego, where I am currently a Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to advancing the field through both leadership and mentorship. I have served as president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy, chaired and co-chaired several major research conferences, and served as an associate editor for the Journal of Natural Products. I am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the American Society of Pharmacognosy. I have trained over 100 doctoral and postdoctoral students, and my research group has published nearly 500 papers and more than 25 patents on topics in the natural product sciences and medicinal chemistry.

2. What motivated you to accept the role of Chair of the 2026 Tu Youyou Award Committee?

Of course, I am a huge supporter of all awards that are given in recognition of excellent scientific research, and especially so in the natural products sciences and medicinal chemistry. However, this award is truly special in that it recognizes scientific excellence as well as impact, and is given in the name of an individual, Tu Youyou, who clearly had many challenges along the path to reach the pinnacle of her success. Not only was she the first Chinese person to win a Nobel prize in this area, but she was also the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel prize, and this was achieved without graduate education in China or elsewhere. It’s a true testament to what can be achieved by hard work, determination, and vision. To read the history of her extraordinary approach to discovering novel antimalarial compounds from Traditional Chinese Medicine is truly inspirational. It is, therefore, the inspiration provided by the extraordinary life and career of Tu Youyou that motivated me to accept the Chair of the Award Committee for 2026.

3. How do you view the role of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry in today’s scientific landscape, and what major advances over the past decade have shaped this field?

A quite remarkable integration of fields is currently transforming natural products science and medicinal chemistry. In natural products, we are seeing integration of different omics methods, from metabolites to proteins to nucleic acids. Sophisticated biological and pharmacological approaches are driving the discovery of exquisitely potent and selective natural products. Advances are being made to integrate molecular-level recognition of natural products with chemical ecological studies, and sophisticated methods of structure determination using Artificial Intelligence or pioneering new tools such as microED are being applied with increasing frequency. High-level synthetic methodologies, such as protecting group-free synthetic routes, are enhancing medicinal chemistry, accelerating the identification of lead molecules with attractive pharmaceutical properties at an increasing pace.

4. How do you consider the balance between fundamental discovery (e.g., new molecules or mechanisms) and practical impact (e.g., therapeutic applications)?

Many individuals are excellent scientists and mentors, and have essential roles in developing our culture that values science and the scientific method. It should also be pointed out that not all scientific discoveries are going to have a broad societal impact, but they are nevertheless critical to the overall body and structure of science. But it is a truly remarkable individual who makes a key scientific discovery, recognizes its potential value to society in general, and then has the skills and determination to bring it forward as a useful product. That was the type of person the Tu Youyou is, and that is the type of person who is honored by the prize in her name.

5. What do you see as the key challenges or opportunities currently facing the field?

We are on the crux of an amazing revolution in many of the sciences, including natural products and medicinal chemistry; the purposeful application of Artificial Intelligence to solving many of the difficulties involved in the search for new pharmaceuticals from Nature. AI is transforming how we select organisms for study, what pharmaceutical targets to go after, rapidly resolving the chemical structures of new compounds, identifying efficient routes to their chemical synthesis, understanding their molecular mechanisms of action, and finally, designing their clinical application. The role of people in these pursuits is changing. Increasingly, the human role will be providing overall vision: what can we do? What should we do? And it is important to remember that AI is providing hypotheses, not truth. Scientists with expert domain knowledge will be critical for discerning the correctness of hypotheses put forth by AI. Altogether, advances in technology, expanding knowledge, and the appropriate use of AI methods are preparing society to be able to address emerging diseases, such as pandemics, as well as conditions that are not effectively treated by currently existing therapeutics.

6. How do you expect the Tu Youyou Award to contribute to the advancement of natural product chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and human health over the coming years?

The Tu Youyou Award is potentially transformative for the broad fields of natural products science and medicinal chemistry as it brings a significantly increased level of visibility to these topics and their contributions to human health. It will be crucial to have excellent communication to news agencies, social media and other communication outlets so that the general public is informed and educated on the high impact of these natural product/medicinal chemistry contributions. This will bring increased funding, attract promising students, and generally enrich the interface of these fields with the health sector.

7. What message would you like to convey to the research community and the public during this open nomination phase?

This prize gives broad societal visibility to the role that natural products have had in shaping a majority of our current medicines, as well as understanding the life forms with whom we share the planet. Further, it recognizes a woman scientist working under sub-optimal conditions who could persevere and make discoveries of global impact. The prize and what it represents, therefore, inspires current and future generations to engage in the study of Nature and its relationship to Human Health, to overcome adversity, and to aspire to making one’s life impactful.

About the Tu Youyou Award

Established in 2016, the Tu Youyou Award seeks to honor those who excel in the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. This award offers a total prize of CHF 100,000, which will be equally divided among the winners if there is more than one, with each recipient receiving an award medal and a certificate.

The 2026 Tu Youyou Award is open for nominations until 31 October 2026. We encourage all eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious recognition, as this award not only honors individual achievement but also encourages further scientific exchange, exploration and discovery in critical areas of medicine.

If you are interested in participating, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website for more information on the nomination requirements.

World Malaria Day, observed annually on 25 April, celebrates the importance of raising awareness of malaria and the preventive efforts to control the disease, with the ultimate goal of eradicating malaria worldwide.  With the development of new vaccines, treatments, malaria control tools, and pioneering technologies, ending malaria within our lifetime has become a real possibility.

In recognition of World Malaria Day, MDPI reaffirms its commitment to advancing cutting-edge and interdisciplinary research. Through open access publishing, we support the dissemination of discoveries in Public Health & Healthcare, Medicine & Pharmacology, Biology, Life Sciences, and related fields —ensuring knowledge is accessible and empowering researchers to contribute to the next generation of scientific and technological breakthroughs.

MDPI established the Tu Youyou Award in 2016 to honor Professor Tu Youyou’s remarkable contributions to human health and acknowledge exceptional scholars committed to the research fields of natural product and medicinal chemistry.

Prize:

• CHF 100,000 (to be divided equally should multiple recipients be awarded);
• An award medal and a certificate.

Nomination Deadline: 31 October 2026.

For further information, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website (https://tuyouyouprize.org/).
For any inquiries, please contact the Tu Youyou Award Team at tuyouyouaward@mdpi.com.

Prof. Eleni Patsoula, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece	Prof. Oleksii Skorokhod, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Italy	Prof. Dr. Toshio Hattori, Roken Akanpe Nursing Home, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
Dr. Kostas Eleftheratos, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), South Africa	Dr. Michael Eisenhut, Cochrane Collaboration, UK

Register for this webinar for free here!

“Diagnostic Accuracy of Utilizing Artificial Intelligence for Malaria Diagnostic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
by Icha Farihah Deniyati Faratisha, Khadijah Cahya Yunita,  Hanifa Rizky Rahmawati, Loeki Enggar Fitri, Nuning Winaris and Lailil Muflikah
Infect. Dis. Rep. 2026, 18(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr18010011

“Enduring Warning: A Holistic Comparison of the Establishment and Spread of P. falciparum Evolutionary Lineage Malaria in Ancient Rome and the Threat of Zoonotic P. knowlesi Malaria in Modern Southeast Asia”
by Mark Orsag, Giovanni Meledandri, Amanda McKinney and Melissa Clouse
Zoonotic Dis. 2025, 5(4), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/zoonoticdis5040034

“Evolutionary Trajectory of Plasmodium falciparum: From Autonomous Phototroph to Dedicated Parasite”
by Damian Pikor, Mikołaj Hurla, Alicja Drelichowska and Małgorzata Paul
Biomedicines 2025, 13(9), 2287; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13092287

“Correlation of Inflammatory Biomarkers and IgG4 Antibodies with Malaria in Cameroon’s Buea Municipality Children”
by Jerome Nyhalah Dinga, Flora Ayah, Emmanuel Fondungallah Anu, Haowen Qin, Stanley Dobgima Gamua, Anthony Kukwah Tufon, Magloire Essissima Amougou and  Rameshbabu Manyam
Diseases 2025, 13(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases13040123

“Alterations in von Willebrand Factor Levels in Patients with Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Disease Severity”
by Suriyan Sukati, Rujikorn Rattanatham, Frederick Ramirez Masangkay, Ching-Ping Tseng and Manas Kotepui
Medicina 2025, 61(4), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61040767

“Genetic Diversity of Potential Drug Resistance Markers in Plasmodium vivax Isolates from Panama, Mesoamerica”
by Vanessa Vásquez, Ana María Santamaría, Dianik Moreno, Fergie Ruíz, Chystrie A. Rigg, Luis F. Chaves and José E. Calzada
Pathogens 2025, 14(3), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14030231

“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

“Identification of Malaria-Selective Proteasome β5 Inhibitors Through Pharmacophore Modeling, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation”
by Muhammad Yasir, Jinyoung Park, Eun-Taek Han, Jin-Hee Han, Won Sun Park and Wanjoo Chun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11881; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211881

“Antimalarial Mechanisms and Resistance Status of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives”   
by Dan Zheng,  Tingting Liu, Shasha Yu, Zhilong Liu, Jing Wang and Ying Wang
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2024, 9(9), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9090223

“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

“Targeting Plasmodium Life Cycle with Novel Parasite Ligands as Vaccine Antigens”
by Shan Khan, Manas Paresh Patel, Aleem Damji Patni and Sung-Jae Cha
Vaccines 2024, 12(5), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines12050484

“Advances in Microparasite Research”  Guest Editors: Dr. Sofia Nolasco and Dr. Inês L. S. Delgado   Submission deadline: 31 July 2026	“Malaria in a Changing World” Guest Editors: Dr. Harry Tagbor and Dr. Luiz Shozo Ozaki Submission deadline: 20 August 2026
“Genetic and Molecular Research on the Malaria Parasite” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Hajime Hisaeda and Dr. Takashi Imai Submission deadline: 20 September 2026	“Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria” Guest Editors: Dr. Wenn-Chyau Lee and Dr. Meng Yee Lai Submission deadline: 31 December 2026

MDPI is excited to announce a special webinar in celebration of World Malaria Day on 24 April 2026. This event will promote public understanding of malaria diagnosis and prevention, as well as highlight the development of pioneering technologies that have made malaria elimination possible.

Date: 24 April at 10:00 a.m. CEST | 4:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 847 7074 5022
Webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/MWMDW

Register now for free:

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic and institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Eleni Patsoula, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece;
• Prof. Oleksii Skorokhod, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, Italy;
• Prof. Dr. Toshio Hattori, Roken Akanpe Nursing Home, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan;
• Dr. Ashley Burke, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP ISMC), South Africa;
• Dr. Michael Eisenhut, Cochrane Collaboration, UK.

Relevant Special Issues:
“Advances in Microparasite Research”
Guest Editors: Dr. Sofia Nolasco and Dr. Inês L. S. Delgado
Submission deadline: 31 July 2026

“Malaria in a Changing World”
Guest Editors: Dr. Harry Tagbor and Dr. Luiz Shozo Ozaki
Submission deadline: 20 August 2026

“Genetic and Molecular Research on the Malaria Parasite "
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Hajime Hisaeda and Dr. Takashi Imai
Submission deadline: 20 September 2026

“Advances in Tools for Battling Malaria”
Guest Editors: Dr. Wenn-Chyau Lee and Dr. Meng Yee Lai
Submission deadline: 31 December 2026

“Recent Advances in Malaria Vaccine Development—2nd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Ahmad Rushdi Shakri and Dr. Dipak Raj
Submission deadline: 31 December 2026