Announcements

MDPI will attend the 16th International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA 2026), which will take place from 16 to 21 August 2026 at Palais des Congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Canada.

The International Congress of Parasitology is the premier event organized by the World Federation of Parasitologists (WFP). As the largest gathering in the field of parasitology, ICOPA brings together leading scientists, researchers, and practitioners to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and address global challenges in parasitic diseases.

The theme of ICOPA 2026—“Parasites in a Changing World”—highlights the dynamic interplay between parasites and their environments, emphasizing the need for innovative research and solutions in the face of evolving global challenges. Get ready for a diverse and high-impact scientific program, offering an inclusive platform for knowledge exchange and inspiration to advance parasitology worldwide.

Join us in Montréal and be part of shaping the future of parasitology!

MDPI is excited to participate in this prestigious event. We welcome you to visit MDPI’s booth, where you will be able to have face-to-face exchanges with our representatives, and learn more about our open access publishing services.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Pathogens;
• Parasitologia;
• Veterinary Sciences;
• Infectious Disease Reports;
• Microbiology Research;
• Zoonotic Diseases;
• Fishes;
• Immuno;
• Insects;
• Taxonomy;
• Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease;
• Microorganisms.

If you plan to attend this event, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to 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: https://icopa2026.org/.

Conference: The 8th International Conference on Biotic Plant Interactions (8th ICBPI)
Organization: Nanjing Agricultural University, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Society for Plant Biology and Chinese Society for Plant Pathology
Date: 18–21 October 2026
Location: Fengda International Hotel, Nanjing, China 

Plant–biotic interactions extensively occur in nature. Plant diseases and pests infecting crops severely limit their high yield and good quality, posing a significant risk to global food security. Meanwhile, beneficial organisms are of great importance in maintaining efficient crop production and sustainable development of agriculture and the ecosystem. In order to showcase the latest progress and achievements in global plant–biotic interaction research, and to promote exchanges and collaborations among researchers around the world, the International Conference on Biotic Plant Interactions (ICBPI) is held every two or three years and has been held seven times since 2011. The scale of the conference has also expanded drastically, with the attendees increasing from over 300 to over 1,500, and a large number of top international experts in the field of plant–biotic interactions have been attracted to participate in the conference, which has significantly strengthened the cooperation and communication among international colleagues in the field of plant–biotic interactions, making positive contributions to the food security of the world.

This conference will bring together around 800 scientists and students to share research advances covering a wide range of scientific topics. The topics include, but are not limited to, cross-kingdom signal perception, immunity receptor and effector biochemical activity/function, plant–microbe and insect symbioses, plant microbiome and microbe–microbe interactions, plant–insect–natural enemy multitrophic interactions, new technologies and frontiers: systems and spatial biology in plant–microbe interactions, plant metabolism and immunity, evolution of plant–insect/microbe interactions, emerging harmful organisms and agroecology, and plant resistance and crop molecular design, etc.    

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Plants;
• Horticulturae;
• International Journal of Plant Biology (IJPB);
• Antioxidants;
• Crops;
• Agriculture;
• Seeds;
• Insects;
• Metabolites;
• BioChem;
• AgriEngineering;
• Bacteria. 

The Editorial Office of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450) is pleased to announce an open call for applications for the position of Section Editor-in-Chief for the Section “Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics”.

The Section homepage can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects/sections/insect_molecular_biology_genomics.

We are seeking an outstanding researcher with a strong scientific background in insects’ genes and genomes. The ideal candidate should demonstrate enthusiasm for editorial leadership, support MDPI’s mission and values, and actively promote open access publishing.

Responsibilities of the Section Editor-in-Chief:

The selected candidate will play a key role in overseeing the growth and scientific development of the Section and its Editorial Board. The initial appointment term will be two years and includes the following responsibilities:

• Acting as an ambassador for Insects, MDPI, and open access publishing;
• Making scientific decisions regarding the scope and direction of the Section;
• Inviting distinguished scientists to join the Editorial Board;
• Suggesting and supporting topics for Special Issues;
• Providing guidance and support to Editorial Board Members and editorial staff where required;
• Maintaining oversight of the editorial process for manuscripts submitted to the Section, including making final publication decisions following peer review and revisions;
• Upholding MDPI’s peer review standards and publication ethics guidelines.

Benefits of the position:

The Section Editor-in-Chief will be eligible for the following:

• An annual honorarium;
• Travel grants for international conferences;
• The opportunity to publish 2 papers per year free of charge in Insects;
• The ability to invite high-quality papers at a discount.

This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain editorial leadership experience and expand international scientific networks. For more information about the Editorial Board, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/insects/sectioneditors/insect_molecular_biology_genomics.

Application process:

If you are interested in becoming the Section Editor-in-Chief for the “Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics” Section of Insects, if you would like to recommend potential candidates, or if you require further information, please contact the Insects Editorial Office (insects@mdpi.com) with the following items attached:

• A full academic CV;
• A brief vision statement outlining their ideas and plans for the future development of the “Insect Molecular Biology and Genomics” Section and the journal.

The Editorial Office, in collaboration with the Editor-in-Chief, will carefully review all applications and contact shortlisted candidates directly.

We look forward to receiving your application and welcoming new contributions to the continued growth of Insects.

Our portfolio of journals available for publishing up-to-date research in immediate open access format has been further expanded. In June 2026, eleven new journals released their inaugural issues and two transferred journals released their first issue as part of MDPI, covering the subjects of environmental & earth sciences, chemistry & materials science, public health & healthcare, engineering, medicine & pharmacology, and biology & life sciences. 

We extend our gratitude to the Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members who will shape the future course of these new journals. Each journal is dedicated to upholding strong editorial standards through a thorough peer review process, enabling impactful open access scholarship. 

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below. 

We would like to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. If you would like to create a new journal, you are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee (newjournal-committee@mdpi.com).

Peer review is the invisible foundation of academic progress. The 2025 MDPI Top Reviewers are some of the key experts who helped build it.

We are honored to recognize 1000 individuals from our global community of 210,000 reviewers across 67 countries and territories—chosen for their commitment to rigorous, constructive peer review and the consistency of their contributions throughout 2025.

The Top Reviewers provided constructive and impartial feedback that makes research stronger and more impactful, and we are grateful for it.

The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

(Note: we respected all privacy preferences, with part of nominees opting for limited attribution.)

We are pleased to highlight the "Role of Insects in Human Society" Section of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450), which focuses on the widespread interactions between insects and human societies across diverse cultural, economic, and historical contexts.

Here are some articles published in this Section:

1. “Edible Insect Farming in the Context of the EU Regulations and Marketing—An Overview”
by Krystyna Żuk-Gołaszewska, Remigiusz Gałęcki, Kazimierz Obremski, Sergiy Smetana, Szczepan Figiel and Janusz Gołaszewski
Insects 2022, 13(5), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13050446
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/5/446

2. “Beyond Human Nutrition of Edible Insects: Health Benefits and Safety Aspects”
by José E. Aguilar-Toalá, Rosy G. Cruz-Monterrosa and Andrea M. Liceaga
Insects 2022, 13(11), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13111007
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/1007

3. “Post-Mortem Interval Estimation Based on Insect Evidence: Current Challenges”
by Szymon Matuszewski
Insects 2021, 12(4), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12040314
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/4/314

This Section welcomes high-quality research articles and reviews that advance our understanding of the multifaceted relationships between insects and human societies.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Forensic entomology and the use of insects in legal investigations;
• Insects as food for humans and animals (entomophagy);
• Insect products, including sericulture, insect-based dyes, and bee products such as honey and royal jelly;
• Cultural entomology, including the impact of insects on literature, religion, the arts, history, and related aspects of human activities;
• Insect-based education and public engagement;
• Economic and historical significance of insects in human societies.

We warmly invite researchers in these fields to consider submitting their work to this Section. Your contributions will help advance knowledge in the role of insects in human society and support the development of a deeper understanding of these important human–insect interactions. 

For more information, please visit the Section webpage or contact the Editorial Office. We look forward to receiving your submissions!

We recently invited Dr. Adriana E. Flores to share her reflections on her paper, “Widespread Resistance to Temephos in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Mexico”, one of the papers that won the Insects 2024 Best Paper Award.

Reflections from Dr. Adriana E. Flores:

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board of Insects for selecting our article, “Widespread resistance to temephos in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Mexico”, for the Best Paper Award. It is a tremendous honor, not only for me, but also for all the students, technicians, collaborators, and colleagues who have contributed to this research over many years. Receiving this award has given me the opportunity to look back and realize that this publication represents much more than a single study; it reflects the evolution of a research line built over more than three decades.

My interest in insecticide resistance began during my PhD, when I worked on resistance in agricultural mites. That experience introduced me to the fascinating evolutionary processes that enable arthropods to adapt to chemical control. It also taught me that resistance is not simply the failure of an insecticide but rather the inevitable consequence of continuous selection pressure. Soon afterward, I had the opportunity to apply that knowledge to medically important insects, and that transition completely changed the direction of my scientific career.

A defining moment came with the project “Assessing the Significance of Insecticide Resistance in Aedes aegypti in Mexico”. This was the first research project in Mexico specifically devoted to insecticide resistance in Aedes aegypti. At that time, there was no organized national research program addressing this issue, despite the increasing importance of dengue in the country. That project laid the foundation for insecticide resistance surveillance in Mexico and marked the beginning of a research line that my laboratory has continued to develop for more than twenty years. Looking back, I feel privileged to have witnessed and contributed to the growth of this field from its very beginning in Mexico.

Although insecticide resistance has remained the central theme of my research, the questions we ask have evolved over time. Initially, our efforts focused on documenting resistance in field populations and understanding the biochemical and molecular mechanisms responsible for reduced susceptibility. As our knowledge expanded, so did our research. We began investigating the evolution of kdr mutations, metabolic resistance mechanisms, nationwide resistance surveillance, and strategies for insecticide resistance management.

Today, our laboratory addresses insecticide resistance from a much broader perspective. In addition to surveillance and investigating the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying resistance, we focus on the development and evaluation of innovative strategies for vector control. Our research includes botanical products, nanoformulations, compounds with novel modes of action, the repurposing of existing chemistries, and the study of sublethal effects that may contribute to more sustainable mosquito control. Rather than simply documenting resistance, our goal is to anticipate it by identifying complementary tools that can preserve the effectiveness of vector control interventions. These efforts reflect our belief that the future of mosquito control will depend not only on developing new products but also on implementing integrated, evidence-based strategies that remain effective over the long term.

Throughout my career, I have believed that research should not end with publication. Scientific knowledge should ultimately provide practical solutions for public health. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work has been seeing how research findings can contribute to resistance surveillance, support evidence-based decision-making, and improve vector control strategies.

The award-winning paper represents an important milestone within this long-term research program. For decades, temephos has been one of the most widely used larvicides for controlling Aedes aegypti in Mexico. Although resistance had been reported in individual locations, there was no comprehensive understanding of its distribution throughout the country. We wanted to answer a fundamental question: had resistance remained localized, or had it become a nationwide problem?

To address this question, we conducted a nationwide assessment of Aedes aegypti populations using standardized WHO bioassays and spatial analyses to characterize resistance patterns across Mexico. Our findings demonstrated that resistance to temephos is widespread and highlighted important geographical differences in resistance intensity. These results emphasize the need to incorporate resistance management into vector control programs rather than relying on a single larvicide.

One aspect that makes this paper particularly meaningful to me is that it represents the culmination of many years of continuous work. Large-scale studies such as this require much more than laboratory experiments. They involve coordinating mosquito collections across an entire country, maintaining colonies under standardized conditions, conducting thousands of bioassays, analyzing enormous amounts of data, and working closely with collaborators from many different institutions. Behind every figure, every table, and every map presented in the article are years of dedication, persistence, and teamwork.

Like many long-term projects, this study also presented numerous challenges. Coordinating field collections from geographically distant regions, ensuring the quality and reproducibility of bioassays, and integrating data generated over several years required patience and close collaboration. However, these challenges also made the study especially rewarding because they allowed us to generate one of the most comprehensive assessments of temephos resistance conducted in Mexico.

Looking ahead, I believe that one of the greatest challenges facing vector control will be the sustainable management of insecticide resistance. Mosquito populations continue to evolve, while the number of new insecticides developed specifically for public health remains limited. For that reason, future research should combine continuous resistance surveillance with insecticide rotation based on different modes of action, molecular monitoring, botanical products, biological control, repurposed compounds from agriculture, and other environmentally friendly alternatives. Integrated vector management is no longer simply an option; it is becoming a necessity.

If I could offer one piece of advice to young researchers, it would be to choose questions that truly matter and to be patient enough to pursue them over many years. Scientific careers are not built through a single publication but through perseverance, curiosity, collaboration, and consistency. There will always be failed experiments, rejected manuscripts, and unexpected results, but these experiences often become the most valuable lessons in science.

Finally, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the many students, technicians, collaborators, and colleagues who have shared this scientific journey with me. Research is never an individual effort, and I have been fortunate to work alongside talented and dedicated people who have enriched both our laboratory and this field of research. I would also like to dedicate this recognition to the memory of our dear colleague and friend, Dr. Gustavo Ponce-García, whose enthusiasm for mosquito surveillance and whose scientific contributions continue to inspire our work.

Receiving this award is deeply meaningful because, to me, it recognizes not only a publication but also the continuity of a research line that has grown over many years. It reminds me that good science is built with patience, collaboration, and persistence. More importantly, it encourages us to continue searching for innovative and sustainable solutions that help protect the effectiveness of vector control tools and ultimately contribute to improving public health.”

We are delighted to announce the MDPI Academic Publishing Workshop, organized in partnership with the Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand. This workshop reflects a shared commitment to supporting academic excellence and advancing research capacity through international academic publishing and collaboration.

As part of MDPI’s ongoing dedication to researcher development, the workshop aims to provide valuable insights into scientific publishing, manuscript preparation, and the peer review process. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with publishing professionals and gain practical knowledge to strengthen the quality and impact of their research publications. The workshop is especially beneficial for early-career researchers, graduate students, and academic staff seeking to enhance their academic writing and publication strategies.

Date: 20 July 2026
Time: 1:00–3:30 p.m.
Location: Room No. AG1104, Faculty of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand
Language: Thai
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6R2WDF5

1. Could you give a brief introduction of yourself to the readers? Could you introduce your current research direction and provide an update on your progress?

I am experienced in honey bee research, beekeeping, and diseases studies, and the management of pollinators. During my research work I have been an invited presenter at various scientific conferences, and the results of my recent work have been published in scientific journals. During my research and academic career, I have been collaborating with researchers from different institutions worldwide. In my recent research position at the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Slovenia, I have been undertaking research in determining the effects of pesticides and other external factors on bees (honey bees and native bees), varroa mites control strategies, and studies of gene expression in pesticide-exposed honey bees using cell biology and molecular techniques.

2. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of the winning paper?

In our current paper, “An Overview of the Nutritional Requirements of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758)”, my colleagues, Leticia S. Ansaloni, Janja Kristl and Caio E. C. Domingues, provide an overview of the nutritional requirements of Apis mellifera and their importance for the maintenance of healthy bee colonies. It is exposed that adequate honey bee diet includes the consumption of sufficient amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, water, and essential sterols, and a diet based on multi-floral pollen is desirable. It is an option to improve the health of honey bee colonies with the help of nutritional supplements consisting of a variety of components. We also demonstrated that the interaction between nutrient requirements and the effects of supplements have impact on colony health.

3. How did you choose this topic? What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper?

The topic of nutrition is of key importance for the development and health of honey bees. Especially in an intensive agricultural environment, where there is usually a lack of diversity of food sources. We submitted the article for publication in the journal Insects because we believed that this was an appropriate topic for the journal’s readers and a challenge for researchers studying various aspects of nutrition and vitality of bees and bee colonies.

4. How was your experience submitting to Insects?

Our experience with the review process and also the publication of the article is very positive. The editorial staff was very responsive and up-to-date and also managed the entire process of considering the article appropriately.

5. What is your opinion of the open access model of publishing?

Researchers have a wide range of options for publishing their scientific achievements. Of course, quality review and up-to-date procedures are important criteria when choosing an appropriate journal. The resonance of the article in the scientific community is important, and open access publishing also contributes greatly to the recognition of the work.