Research Description

My laboratory studies interactions between viroids or viruses and their plant hosts, with the aim of designing strategies to control plant diseases. Potato spindle tuber viroid is one of our model systems. Currently, we are studying the relationship between viroid structure and viroid function; for example, replication, movement, and pathogenesis. To do this, we employ site-directed mutagenesis, secondary-structure prediction, and various methods for studying RNA/protein interactions. Recently, we have identified interactions between viroid RNA and host protein kinases. The relationship between these interactions and the cascade of gene induction pathways leading to pathogenesis is under investigation.

Our study of plant viruses includes nucleotide sequencing of pathogenic isolates of the ilarvirus, prunus necrotic ringspot virus, and introduction of pathogen-derived resistance into peach. We have also sequenced and described the expression of maize rayado fino virus, the smallest plant virus known to replicate in both its insect vector and plant host.

Additional Info

* Primary Appointment: Research Plant Pathologist, Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Maryland