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WUR scientist receives award for research on insect viruses
Luis Hernández Pelegrín, a researcher at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), has been awarded the NEV Dissertation Prize for the best thesis in entomology of the past year. This annual prize, presented by the Netherlands Entomological Society (NEV), recognises PhD graduates who have conducted groundbreaking research in the field of entomology.
Luis Hernández Pelegrín earned his PhD at Wageningen University & Research and the University of Valencia. His research was conducted as part of the international training network Insect Doctors and focused on the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), a major agricultural pest causing significant damage worldwide, particularly to citrus crops. His work revealed the presence of thirteen different viruses in this species. He also studied how these viruses - some of which subtly impact the flies, including by reducing their survival rates - are transmitted and the role they play in the fly's development.
These findings offer opportunities to optimise the large-scale rearing of sterilised male Mediterranean fruit flies. This pest is controlled using the sterile insect technique, which involves releasing large numbers of sterilised males into the wild to reduce reproduction and shrink the population. Hernández Pelegrín's insights can help breeders determine whether flies reared without certain viruses are healthier. They may also inform strategies to prevent the spread of viruses during the breeding process.
About the NEV Dissertation Prize
The NEV Dissertation Prize was established in 2008 and is awarded annually to an exceptional PhD thesis in entomology. The prize includes a certificate and a cash award of €1,250. Eligible theses must have been defended at a Dutch university in the preceding academic year (1 August–31 July). The winner is selected by the board of the Netherlands Entomological Society.