Research
Anna Whitfield
Virus-vector interactions:
Arthropod vectors play an essential role in dissemination of viruses; more than 70% of plant-infecting viruses are transmitted from one host to another by arthropod vectors. My research interests include the investigation of how global climate change impacts virus-vector-plant interactions at the ecological and molecular levels. At the ecological level, we are interested in identifying key environmental factors that influence the relationships between arthropod vectors and the viruses they transmit. At the molecular level, we are developing genomics tools that will enable us to examine the impact of elevated temperatures on virus infection of vectors and virus transmission by arthropod vectors.
Multi-trophic interactions:
We are also interested in understanding the molecular basis of plant host response to viruses and their arthropod vectors. Plants are subjected to a dual offensive attack from viruses that are transmitted by arthropods, and plants respond to herbivore and pathogen attack via a multitude of defense mechanisms. We will explore the transcriptome of plant hosts subjected to single and dual attacks in order to identify synergistic or antagonistic interactions among major signaling pathways.
Virus diversity:
High Plains virus (HPV) was first discovered in Kansas in 1993 and this virus has become a persistent disease problem for wheat producers. Until 2004, the HPV isolates detected in Kansas were relatively uniform. Our collaborator, Dr. Dallas Seifers, has observed wheat plants with characteristic HPV symptoms. Analysis of the HPV isolates infecting these plants revealed that the virus sequence varied (35-50%) from the original HPV isolate indicating that these are new isolates or even new species of HPV-related viruses. The HPV genome is made up of at least four RNA segments. When plants are infected with more than one HPV isolate, viral genome segments can be exchanged leading to viruses with new biological characteristics. We are currently sequencing the genome of HPV and we will use this to information to characterize HPV populations in Kansas.
