Our research is focused on the mechanisms of:
- Plant defense responses to pathogens
- Vrus-hosts interactions
- Small RNA biogenesis and activity
- Antiviral immunity
- Genetic determinants of plant-virus interactions and gene silencing.
- Susceptibility gnes to plant viruses
- Virus genomic variation.
We have developed bioinformatic approaches to profile genome-variation in viruses. The computational approach developed is a fundamental tool for profiling viruses of agricultural importance. Our findings have an immense impact on agriculture, such as molecular diagnostics and engineering of genetic resistance to viral diseases in plants. Part of this knowledge has been translated into more accurate diagnostic protocols for potyviruses and Tobamoviruses. Susceptibility genes provide targets for gene editing and are valuable tools to understand the mechanisms of virus-hosts interactions. In recent publications, we have identified the core genetic components of antiviral gene silencing and shown the effects of the silencing suppressor in overcoming antiviral defense responses.
We implement an interdisciplinary approach that combines biochemical, genetic, genomic, computational biology and bioinformatics tools. We use experimental model systems that consist of positive- and negative-strand RNA viruses and model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana, and heterologous host Saccharomyces cerevisiae.