APHID-BORNE VIRUSES

Blocking the transmission of aphid-borne plant viruses

Coordinatore	INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE    more  Organization address address: Rue De L'Universite 147 city: PARIS CEDEX 07 postcode: 75338 contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Stephane Cognome: Blanc Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 99624804 Fax: +33 4 99624822
Nazionalità Coordinatore	France [FR]
Totale costo	152˙474 €
EC contributo	152˙474 €
Programma	FP7-PEOPLE Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)
Code Call	FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
Funding Scheme	MC-IIF
Anno di inizio	2013
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2013-06-01   -   2014-07-31

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE  Organization address address: Rue De L'Universite 147 city: PARIS CEDEX 07 postcode: 75338 contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Stephane Cognome: Blanc Email: send email Telefono: +33 4 99624804 Fax: +33 4 99624822	FR (PARIS CEDEX 07)	coordinator	152˙474.34

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Plant virus diseases cause significant agricultural losses worldwide; most of these pathogens (three quarters) require a vector for spread. Despite the importance of such diseases, management is still largely based on the application of pesticides to control vector populations, which has direct and indirect consequences to food production and environmental safety and sustainability. Molecular determinants of vector transmission have been well explored only for a few plant disease systems compared to numerous animal diseases, and may represent an untapped source of novel disease control strategies. The goal of this project is to test if the transmission of important aphid-borne viruses can be blocked by disrupting molecular vector-virus interactions.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Researchers have investigated whether the spread of plant viruses can be stopped by blocking the interactions between the virus and the insect that transmits it.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Traditionally, managing economically damaging plant viruses has relied on pesticides to stop the insect vectors. While this method does have some usefulness, indiscriminate use of pesticides has a far-reaching impact on the environment and on human health.

In an attempt to find an alternative strategy, the EU-funded 'Blocking the transmission of aphid-borne plant viruses' (APHID-BORNE VIRUSES) project aimed to block transmission by disrupting virus-vector interactions.

Aphids, which are common vectors for plant viruses, usually have receptors on their mouthparts that interact with viruses to aid transmission. The strategy envisioned by APHID-BORNE VIRUSES would use antibodies or small proteins to bind with receptors and physically block this interaction.

The project first carefully established and optimised the methods to be used. Researchers then tested both antibodies and proteins for their ability to block virus transmission in controlled experiments.

Unfortunately, this approach was unsuccessful. However, in the course of their experiments, project scientists found that some viruses can block the transmission of other viruses. Several further experiments confirmed this result.

To investigate this strategy further, the findings will be tested on aphids that are eating plants rather than being fed mixtures of viruses. If that work is successful, the strategy envisioned by APHID-BORNE VIRUSES may hold promise as a way to prevent transmission of plant diseases.