NATURAL
RESOURCES
INSTITUTE

Knowledge for a sustainable world

Molecular Virology and Entomology

We aim to develop and disseminate improved diagnostic tools to detect plant pests and pathogens and understand complex plant-virus-vector interactions that will identify sustainable control measures.

The Molecular Virology and Entomology Research group undertakes strategic and applied research for controlling pests and diseases of tropical food crops especially those caused by viruses and insect vectors on cassava, sweet potato, yams and vegetables in many African and Asian countries. We develop and disseminate improved diagnostic tools for the rapid and efficient detection of plant pests and pathogens, understand complex plant-virus-vector interactions that will allow answering important epidemiological questions and undertake research to identify sustainable control measures. In our research, we employ both traditional and advanced technologies including identifying transgenic sources of resistance to crop pests, and discovering novel targets for virus and insect control by comparative genomics and transcriptomics. The current focus of our research includes:

  • Research to generate an improved understanding of the factors contributing to the spread of cassava, yam and sweet potato virus disease epidemics in Africa and their control.
  • Developing robust, low-cost laboratory and field diagnostic technologies for plant viruses and their vectors, focussing on root and tuber crop viruses (cassava, sweet potato and yam).
  • Gaining insights into virus-host-vector interactions involving cassava mosaic viruses (Family Geminiviridae) and cassava brown streak viruses (Family Potyviridae) with their host cassava and common insect vector, Bemisia tabaci.

In support of our research activities, the Group is proactive in building public and private partnerships to promote the practical application of biotechnologies in Sub-Saharan Africa and their potential contribution to food security and sustainable agricultural production.

  • Using High-Throughput Sequencing indexing to strengthen the yam (Dioscorea spp.) seed systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (2019-2022, Royal Society International Collaboration Award)
  • Enabling Research Tools for Cassava and Yam Virologists and Breeders (Phase II, 2016-2021, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - BMGF funded)
  • Development of on-farm robust diagnostic toolkits for yam virus diseases (2012-2018, BMGF-funded)
  • African cassava whitefly: outbreak causes and sustainable solutions (2014-2018, BMGF-funded)
  • CONNECTED: COmmunity Network for africaN vECTor borne plant viruses (led by Prof. Gary Foster, University of Bristol, Global Challenges Research Fund- GCRF funded)
  • PEARL II: Improving Our Understanding and Response to Yam Badnaviruses Impacting Yam Growers in Northern Nigeria (2016-2019, led by Dr Aliyu Turaki, Kebbi State, Nigeria, BMGF-funded)
  • Bio-ecology of and Host Plant Resistance to Bean Leaf Beetles: A Step Towards Sustainable Management in Uganda (2016-2019, led by Dr Michael Otim, National Crops Resources Research Institute, Uganda, BMGF-funded)

Current PhD students:

  • Ruth O. Festus: Development and evaluation of novel diagnostic tools for African yam viruses
  • Katherine Connor: Diversity and evolution of plant DNA viruses: implications of climate change for disease management
  • Juan Paolo Sicat: Evolution of invasiveness of whiteflies belonging to the Bemisia tabaci species complex.
  • Steven Sewe: Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) characterization of plant viral diversity and host interactions in West African yam (Dioscorea spp.)
  • Phillip Abidrabo

Previous PhD students:

  • Tadeo Kaweesi: Identification of new gene targets for control of cassava whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
  • Ajith Rathnayake: Establishing the link between plant stress signalling and activatable endogenous pararetroviruses
  • Annet Namuddu: Identification of essential detoxification genes in African cassava whitefly populations as potential targets for silencing and effective pest control
  • Joachim Nwezeobi: Transcriptomic and genomic analysis of the West African cassava whitefly populations
  • Sona Vyskocilova: Gene flow between Bemisia tabaci Mediterranean (MED) populations and their host-plant preferences
  • Medhavi Ranatunga: Immunological response to Leishmania infection of human cell
  • Habibu Mugerwa (2018) Diversity, molecular characterisation and diagnostic tests to assist the development of effective whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, control in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Nikunj Naik (2018) Computational characterization of gene families in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci
  • Mitul Patel (2016) Assembly and annotation of the transcriptome and genome of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, generated using next generation sequencing technologies
  • Springate S (2015) The cabbage whitefly, Aleyrodes proletella: outbreaks and potential solutions.
  • Aliyu Turaki (2014) Are endogenous pararetrovirus sequences in yam genomes activatable and responsible for widespread badnavirus infections in West African yams?
  • Nawres Sadeq (2013) Molecular characterisation of plant viruses infecting potato and vegetables in Iraq.
  • M.M. Abarshi (2012) Biodiversity and pathogenicity of viruses causing cassava brown streak disease.
  • Chowda Reddy RV (2004) Molecular characterisation of tomato leaf curl viruses and Bemisia tabaci.
  • Herselman L (2003) Genetic linkage map development and identification of molecular markers linked to groundnut rosette disease aphid resistance in groundnut.
  • Alicai T. (2003) Cassava mosaic resistant cassava: selective effects on cassava mosaic begomoviruses and reversion and recovery from cassava mosaic disease.
  • Omongo CA. (2003) Bemisia tabaci, behaviour and ecology in relation to the spread of the cassava mosaic epidemic in Uganda. 
  • Lebas BSM (2002) Diversity of viruses infecting Dioscorea species in the South Pacific
  • Nakyanzi M (2002) Molecular and pathogenic diversity of isolates of Mycosphaerella fijiensis from E.Africa
  • Maruthi MN. (2001) Bemisia tabaci and geminivirus variability in relation to cassava mosaic disease.
  • Abubakar Z. (2000) Development of diagnostic techniques for bacterial pathogens of crop plants in Tanzania.
  • Thwaites RM (1999) Molecular studies on pathogenicity genes of vascular bacterial pathogens of Musa spp.
  • Henríquez N P (1997). Diagnostic techniques for discrimination between the components of the corn stunt complex in Mexico and Central America.
  • Jayaratne D L (1996) Detection and differentiation of potyviruses affecting yam.

 

Affiliates

Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences

NRI researchers address challenges and opportunities relating to the spectrum of activities from food production to consumption, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa but increasingly also on those related to the UK. At the primary production end of the scale this includes a particular emphasis of the vectors of disease of people, livestock and crops. Our work post-harvest concentrates on durable and perishable crops to, reduce losses, enhance financial and/or nutritional crop value, improve storage and preservation, improve food processing technologies, ensuring food safety and quality management and, address food loss and waste – all with the ultimate aim of improving the livelihoods and nutritional status of vulnerable, less advantaged populations.

The Chemical Ecology Group works on the identification and use of naturally-produced chemicals for control of pests, particularly in the developing countries.

Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the biggest global challenges in the coming decades, primarily due to their impacts on the provision of ecosystem services.

The Food Systems Research Group addresses challenges and opportunities relating to the spectrum of activities from food production to consumption.

The work of the Pest Behaviour Group ranges from laboratory-based research to analyse the basic physiology and behaviour of pests and vectors through field-based studies of pest behaviour and ecology to translational research where knowledge of pest behaviour is used to develop innovative control technologies.

The Plant Health Group’s research focusses on reducing yield losses caused by pests and diseases through application of integrated natural and social science approaches. Fundamental research to understand complex plant-virus-vector interactions are focussed on providing critical components needed to generate impact through improved and sustainable control measures.

Anthropology and Development Studies

NRI social scientists are committed to researching major questions about how households and communities in the global South escape from poverty, how they make themselves more resilient to external trends, and how they can be helped by governments and their policies, civil society, market actors, and international agencies. We research these questions in projects we design and lead ourselves, and in collaboration with colleagues from the biophysical sciences, in NRI and beyond.

Our research addresses poverty and vulnerability, and how poor people themselves, governments, the private sector and civil society can help overcome them

 

Impact Case Studies

NRI undertakes interdisciplinary research to improve lives and sustain our planet. We generate new knowledge and insights, carrying out our work together with our global partners and the communities we aim to support, to ensure our research has sustainable impact. From the concept stage to implementation and assessment, delivering real impact is intrinsic to our research projects and programmes, and encompasses our whole research environment organised into interconnected Research Groups and Development Programmes. As part of UKRI’s exercise to assess the impact of research outside academia, we submitted seven impact case studies in REF2021, the UK’s system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. In this section, you will find summaries of our impact case studies with contact details of the lead academic.

Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN)

The network allows ECRs to come together, to enhance their research and wider development skills in a dynamic and highly multidisciplinary working environment that strives for a vibrant and inclusive culture of research excellence.