Portal Our Laboratories

Neonicotinoids have long been used to combat aphids in crops Repeated use of these active substances has led to the selection of insects capable of resisting them. A study on the green peach aphid carried out by ANSES in collaboration with a research scientist from the University of Exeter (UK), revealed that resistance was based on two distinct mechanisms in this species. One is specific to the product's mode of action and the other is based on its degradation. The scientists' findings show that interactions between resistance mechanisms are possible, which is vital knowledge for adapting and adjusting control strategies.

A study carried out in eight European countries confirms that pathogens can be transmitted from one species of pollinating insect to another. The health of wild pollinators can therefore be affected when a contaminated colony of honeybees is established nearby. Unlike in previous studies, the results did not show any significant effect of the type of crop grown in bee foraging areas.

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major health problem for both humans and animals. In France, the use of antibiotics and the distribution of resistant bacteria are covered by several surveillance schemes that do not consistently or sufficiently collaborate with one another. The Surv1Health project, which has just been completed, aimed to identify ways of breaking down silos in the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and making it more useful as part of the ‘One Health’ approach.