Aurelie Rakotondrafara
Credentials: Plant Pathology Department
Position title: Viral translation and plant defense controls
Email: rakotondrafa@wisc.edu
Phone: (608) 890-1871
Address:
284 Russell Laboratories
1630 Linden Dr
Madison, WI 53706
LAB WEBSITE:
FOCUS GROUPS:
Virology; RNA Biology; Molecular & Genome Biology of Microbes
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
A key solution to the devastating effects of viral pathogens is to understand how they gain a foothold in the host cells. The overarching goals of my research program are to: 1) elucidate how +ssRNA plant viruses parasitize the host translation apparatus to synthesize their proteins; and 2) dissect how these viruses avoid or subvert host defenses or induce hypovirulence with competing pathogens. My research has demonstrated new virus-host interactions that can inform the improvement of viral disease controls. The ability of viral RNA sequences to drive powerful protein expression opens opportunities for biotechnology in this era of plant pharmaceutical farming. The viruses that we study are like those that afflict vertebrates, hence suggesting broadspectrum relevance of the findings and building the ground on alternative biocontrols to control fungal diseases.
ALSO A TRAINER IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: