# Inhibitors of Sodium‐Dependent Serotonin Transporter Protein (SERT) as Potential New Nematicides

## TL;DR

This study explores SERT inhibitors as potential new nematicides to combat root-knot nematodes, which harm crops.

## Contribution

The study identifies SERT as a novel target for nematicides and evaluates SERT inhibitors in vitro and in plant trials.

## Key findings

- Paroxetine, a SERT inhibitor, achieved 50% mortality in nematode juveniles at 351.3 µg/mL.
- Paroxetine reduced the pathogenicity of Meloidogyne incognita juveniles in plant trials.
- Fluensulfone, a commercial nematicide, had an LC50 of 39.3 µg/mL under the same conditions.

## Abstract

Nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne cause major losses in agricultural production worldwide. To identify potentially useful chemical structures for developing new nematicides, this study initially aimed to determine in silico  – using computationally efficient techniques – the protein target of chaetoglobosins A and B in these nematodes. This process led to the selection of the sodium‐dependent serotonin transporter protein (SERT). The activities of SERT inhibitors were subsequently evaluated in vitro. The best result was obtained with paroxetine, which caused 50% mortality (LC50) in second‐stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne incognita at a concentration of 351.3 µg/mL. Under the same conditions, the commercial nematicide fluensulfone showed an LC50 of 39.3 µg/mL. In plant trials, paroxetine reduced the pathogenicity of M. incognita J2. Therefore, further investigation of SERT inhibitors holds promise for the development of new nematicides.