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SUMMARY:The extended phenotype of the cucumber mosaic virus genome in inse
 ct transmission - Niels Groen
DTSTART:20120614T150000Z
DTEND:20120614T153000Z
UID:TALK36686@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Suzy Stoodley
DESCRIPTION:Pathogen genomes encode proteins that manipulate hosts to crea
 te a favourable niche for pathogen reproduction. For animal-transmitted pa
 thogens the effects of some of their genes are often not just restricted t
 o their primary hosts. Indeed\, these genes give rise to a phenotype that 
 may extend to the pathogen’s animal vectors changing their performance o
 r behaviour and often benefitting pathogen transmission. This idea was cap
 tured by Richard Dawkins in his book “The extended phenotype: The long r
 each of the gene” (Oxford Univ. Press\, 1982).  For most pathogen-host-v
 ector interactions it is currently not feasible to elucidate the genetic b
 asis underlying the extended phenotype of the pathogen. During my PhD proj
 ect I used a model system comprised of cucumber mosaic virus\, its main in
 sect vectors\, aphids\, and their shared plant host Arabidopsis for which 
 this should be possible. Using a whole genome approach I harnessed the nat
 ural variation in viral transmission phenotypes to identify the genes with
  extended effects in insect-mediated dispersal. Here\, I will present evid
 ence of the interactive effects of three viral genes that are all needed t
 o ensure efficient spread of this virus.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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