Research in this laboratory is directed to understanding how plant viruses cause disease and to developing novel strategies to reduce the consequences of virus infection. The three major research topics in the lab include: (1) studies of the molecular stucture and cellular mechanisms that characterize coat protein mediated resistance against tobacco mosaic virus (TMV); (2) the cellular, biochemical, and genetic components that influence cell-cell spread of TMV; and (3) the biochemical activity of host transcription factors that control expression of rice tungro bacilliform badnavirus. Studies in this laboratory encourage students and post-doctoral associates to include computational, biochemical, cellular biology, and genetics in their research. Photo caption: Accumulation of the tobacco mosaic virus 30 kDa movement protein in BY-2 protoplasts following infection. Fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize MP:GFP fusion protein in association with microtubules and ER.