1. AgroViroMics Research (Exploration of Agroecosystem Viromes and Microbiomes (discovery and ecological approach))
Research Goal: To uncover diversity and reservoirs of viruses (and other pathogenic or beneficial microbes) in crops, wild or native/indigenous plants, arthropods, and environment within and at the interface of wild and cultivated agroecosystems in association with disease dynamics using high-throughput sequencing (HTS).
Work Mode (estimate): Field (30%), GH/GC* (10%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (30%)
Techniques: field survey and disease diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, high-throughput sequencing (HTS), bioinformatics
Publication for reference: In-depth study of tomato and weed viromes reveals undiscovered plant virus diversity in an agroecosystem. Microbiome 11:60. https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-023-01500-6
2. PhyloEcology Research (Predictive studies on virus evolution and epidemiology using Phylogenetics and Ecological approaches)
Research Goal: To proactively track global distribution and spread, host range expansion, and discover new ecological niche of viruses by employing exa-scale datamining of global sequencing databases, and subsequently, examine relationships of host-virus coevolutionary history and their ecology to better predict possible host range expansion, spread, or emergence of detected viruses.
Work Mode (estimate): Field (0%), GH/GC* (0%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (70%)
Techniques: high-throughput sequencing (HTS), bioinformatics, exa-scale datamining, AI-based modeling
Publication for reference: Diversity and pathobiology of an ilarvirus unexpectedly detected in diverse plants and global sequencing data. Phytopathology® 113:1729-1744. https://apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/10.1094/PHYTO-12-22-0465-V
3. PhytoGuard Research (Sustainable solutions to guard plant health, e.g. biological control for plant pathogens, plant probiotics and stimulants, etc.)
Research Goal: To characterize the pathobiological properties or potential beneficial ecological roles of viruses and other microbes from agroecosystems to enhance risk assessment and mitigation strategies for pandemic preparedness.
Work Mode (estimate): Field (20%), GH/GC* (40%), Wet Lab (30%), Dry Lab (10%)
Techniques: field survey and disease diagnostics, molecular diagnostics, biological and GH/GC* assays, bioinformatics
Publication for reference: Influence of native endophytic bacteria on the growth and bacterial crown rot tolerance of papaya (Carica papaya). European Journal of Plant Pathology 161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021-02345-1
(Note: asterisk (*) means Greenhouse or Growth Chambers)