World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Biology and Biochemistry

D-Index
57
Citations
10020
World Ranking
13997
National Ranking
293

Overview

Xavier Bellés is affiliated with Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and has contributed extensively to research in agricultural and biological sciences as well as biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology. Their work primarily investigates insect biology with a strong emphasis on evolutionary and molecular aspects.

Their research spans several subfields, including ecology, evolution, behavior and systematics, genetics, cellular and molecular neuroscience, molecular biology, and insect science. The scientist's research topics cover insect and arachnid ecology and behavior, fossil insects in amber, neurobiology and insect physiology research, animal behavior and reproduction, hemiptera insect studies, interactions between insects and parasites, and epigenetics and DNA methylation.

Xavier Bellés has published in multiple scientific venues with frequent publications in:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Cell Reports Methods
  • iScience

The following recent papers exemplify their research output:

  • DIPA-CRISPR is a simple and accessible method for insect gene editing, 2022, Cell Reports Methods
  • DNMT1 Promotes Genome Methylation and Early Embryo Development in Cockroaches, 2020, iScience
  • Reduction of embryonic E93 expression as a hypothetical driver of the evolution of insect metamorphosis, 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • Regulation of metamorphosis in neopteran insects is conserved in the paleopteran Cloeon dipterum (Ephemeroptera), 2021, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
  • E93-depleted adult insects preserve the prothoracic gland and molt again, 2020, Development

The scientist collaborates regularly with several researchers, notably:

  • Alba Ventós-Alfonso
  • Orathai Kamsoi
  • Guillem Ylla
  • Takaaki Daimon
  • Ana Fernández-Nicolas

Best Publications

  • Beyond Drosophila: RNAi In Vivo and Functional Genomics in Insects

    Xavier Bellés

  • The mevalonate pathway and the synthesis of juvenile hormone in insects.

    Xavier Bellés;David Martín;Maria-Dolors Piulachs

  • Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality

    Mark C. Harrison;Evelien Jongepier;Hugh M. Robertson;Nicolas Arning

  • Molecular basis of juvenile hormone signaling.

    Marek Jindra;Xavier Bellés;Tetsuro Shinoda

  • The vitellogenin of the honey bee, Apis mellifera: structural analysis of the cDNA and expression studies.

    M. D. Piulachs;Karina Rosa Guidugli;Angel Roberto Barchuk;J. Cruz

  • Persistence of double-stranded RNA in insect hemolymph as a potential determiner of RNA interference success: evidence from Manduca sexta and Blattella germanica.

    Jennifer S Garbutt;Xavier Bellés;Elaine H. Richards;Stuart E. Reynolds

  • The MEKRE93 (Methoprene tolerant-Krüppel homolog 1-E93) pathway in the regulation of insect metamorphosis, and the homology of the pupal stage.

    Xavier Belles;Carolina G. Santos

  • Conserved repressive function of Krüppel homolog 1 on insect metamorphosis in hemimetabolous and holometabolous species

    Jesus Lozano;Xavier Belles

  • Screening of antifeedant activity in brain extracts led to the identification of sulfakinin as a satiety promoter in the German cockroach. Are arthropod sulfakinins homologous to vertebrate gastrins-cholecystokinins?

    José L. Maestro;Ruth Aguilar;Nuria Pascual;Mari-Luz Valero

  • Ecdysone signalling and ovarian development in insects: from stem cells to ovarian follicle formation.

    Xavier Belles;Maria-Dolors Piulachs

  • Evolution on a shaky piece of Gondwana: is local endemism recent in New Caledonia?

    Jérôme Murienne;Philippe Grandcolas;Maria Dolors Piulachs;Xavier Bellés

  • Allatostatic neuropeptides from the cockroach Blattella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera, Blattellidae). Identification, immunolocalization and activity

    Xavier Bellés;José-Luis Maestro;Maria-Dolors Piulachs;Anders H. Johnsen

  • Functions of the ecdysone receptor isoform-A in the hemimetabolous insect Blattella germanica revealed by systemic RNAi in vivo

    Josefa Cruz;Daniel Mané-Padrós;Xavier Bellés;David Martín

  • RNAi studies reveal a conserved role for RXR in molting in the cockroach Blattella germanica.

    David Martín;Oscar Maestro;Josefa Cruz;Daniel Mané-Padrós

  • Insect antifeedant activity of clerodane diterpenoids against larvae ofSpodoptera Littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera).

    Belles X;Camps F;Coll J;Piulachs

  • Systemic RNAi of the cockroach vitellogenin receptor results in a phenotype similar to that of the Drosophila yolkless mutant

    Laura Ciudad;Maria-Dolors Piulachs;Xavier Bellés

  • MiR-2 family regulates insect metamorphosis by controlling the juvenile hormone signaling pathway.

    Jesus Lozano;Raúl Montañez;Xavier Belles

  • Vitellogenin expression in queen ovaries and in larvae of both sexes of Apis mellifera.

    Karina R. Guidugli;Maria-Dolors Piulachs;Xavier BelléS;Anete P. LourençO

  • Key roles of the Broad-Complex gene in insect embryogenesis

    Maria-Dolors Piulachs;Viviana Pagone;Xavier Bellés

  • An experimental test of the role of environmental temperature variability on ectotherm molecular, physiological and life-history traits: implications for global warming.

    Guillermo Folguera;Daniel A. Bastías;Jelle Caers;José M. Rojas

Frequent Co-Authors

David Andreu
David Andreu Pompeu Fabra University
Coby Schal
Coby Schal North Carolina State University
Judith Korb
Judith Korb University of Freiburg
Erich Bornberg-Bauer
Erich Bornberg-Bauer University of Münster
Peter Cherbas
Peter Cherbas Indiana University
Josefina Casas
Josefina Casas Spanish National Research Council
Philippe Grandcolas
Philippe Grandcolas French National Museum of Natural History
Lynn M. Riddiford
Lynn M. Riddiford University of Washington
Zilá Luz Paulino Simões
Zilá Luz Paulino Simões Universidade de São Paulo
Carl S. Thummel
Carl S. Thummel University of Utah

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