Impact of RNA and DNA Virus Infection on Plant Cellular Ultrastructures

Plant viruses are among the most severe pathogens threatening crop production, and hence global food security. Dealing with them is thus an urgent societal challenge nowadays. Despite intensive research efforts, important gaps in knowledge often compromise effective plant virus control strategies. Moreover, climate change is adding new threats by expanding the geographic range where different plant viruses and their insect vectors can reach susceptible hosts.  

In this proposal, we will explore the subcellular structure of plant cells infected by different viruses, using plants experimentally infected by relevant viral pathogens. Cell isolation will be carried out using protoplast preparations to eliminate the cell wall and allow imaging of intracellular organelles. To identify infected cells, we will use available biotechnological tools for tagging viruses with fluorescence, and through comparison with uninfected control samples we aim to characterize structural responses to the infections caused by viruses with RNA or DNA genomes, which are expected to replicate respectively in the cytoplasm or the nucleus. The ultimate purpose of the project is to reveal key cellular features that could be targeted to enhance virus tolerance and preserve crop yields.