A key solution to the devastating effects of viral pathogens is to understand how they gain a foothold in the host cells and against other competing pathogens. The overarching goals of my research program are to:

1. elucidate how +ssRNA plant viruses parasitize the host translation apparatus to synthesize their proteins. Indeed viruses must co-opt host translation apparatus to synthesize their own proteins. Consequently, they have evolved unique strategies to outcompete host mRNAs for these limiting machineries. Many deviates from the canonical cap-dependent translation process by relying on various translation elements. The ability of viral RNA sequences to drive powerful protein expression opens opportunities for biotechnology in this era of plant pharmaceutical farming.
2. dissect how these viruses avoid or subvert host defenses; of specific interest are the various mechanisms of resistance against Potato Virus Y (PVY), which remains a major threat for potato production. The defense strategies include loss or mutation of essential host eukaryotic translation initiation factors eIF4E that can’t longer be physically recruited by PVY, and the strain-specific Ny_tbr gene, popular in commercial varieties of potatoes but only efficient against PVY ^O and not the necrotic strains that are dominating the crop fields.
3. explore how viruses interact with other common pathogens, undermining the ecological role of viruses as potential drivers of evolution of disease epidemics and severity by positively and/or negatively regulating fungal pathogenicity.