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Jeanmarie Verchot

Professor
Office:  
213C Plant Pathology and Microbiology Building
Email:  
Phone:  
979-458-6369
Jeanmarie Verchot's Website

Education

Undergraduate Education
1987 B.S. Genetics (Molecular) Cook College at Rutgers University
Graduate Education
1991-1995 Ph.D. Microbiology, Texas A&M University
Awards
2019 Fellow of the Institute of Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, Texas A&M University
2015 Regents Distinguished Researcher Award from Oklahoma State University

Professional Summary

My research addresses fundamental molecular mechanisms underlying virus-host interactions in order to discover new genetic mechanisms controlling virus infection that can be used in novel strategies to control disease. We partner with breeders and stakeholders to identify critical agricultural problems caused by viruses to develop technologies to advance strategies for germplasm improvement. These are current projects in my laboratory:

1. ER stress and UPR functions in potexvirus infection in the model host Arabidopsis:
Our research identified membrane associated signaling pathways that serve to limit plant
virus infection, independent of classical R-gene mediated defenses or gene silencing.
2. Rose rosette virus (RRV) infection in roses: RRV has been devastating roses and the rose
industry in the USA causing millions of dollars in losses. The overall objective is to rapidly
assess the resistance of rose germplasm to RRD under greenhouse conditions by combining
mechanical inoculation with infectious clone technology.
3. Virus-host transcriptome studies: we are performing hypothesis driven investigations into
how viruses reprogram host gene expression as an underlying cause of disease. This work
involves computational approaches as well as laboratory and greenhouse studies.
4. Tomato spotted wilt virus: We are developing infectious clone technology
5. Viroid infection of hemp: Working with industry partners to identify sources of genetic
resistance to HLVd, develop early diagnostic detection methods, and to enhance the
information pipeline.

National Service

2025- Editorial Board Journal of Virology

2022-Present Senior Editor MDPI-Viruses

2015-2021 Senior Editor for Molecular Plant Pathology Journal

2017-2020 Councilor for Plant Virology to the American Society of Virorology

Selected Publications

  1. Kormelink, R., Verchot, J., Tao, X., Desbiez, C. (2021).  The Bunyavirales:  The plant-infecting counterparts.  Viruses, 13(5):842. doi: 10.3390/v13050842.
  2. Herath, V., and Verchot, J. (2021).  Transcriptional regulatory networks associate with early stages of potato virus X infection of Solanum tuberosum.  Int. J. Mol. Sci. vol 22: 2837. doi: 10.3390/ijms22062837.
  3. Verchot, J, Jackson, AO, and Simon AE (2021).  In tribute to Michael Goodin.  Viruses vol 13: 78. doi: 10.3390/v13010078.
  4. Goodin, M, and Verchot, J (2021) Introduction to Special Issue of Plant Virus Emergence, Viruses, vol 13: doi: 10.3390/v13010055.
  5. Verchot J, Pajerowska-Mukhtar, KM.  (2021) UPR signaling at the nexus of plant viral, bacterial, and fungal defenses.  Curr Opin. Virol. doi: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.11.001
  6. Herath, V, and Verchot J (2020) Insight into the bZIP gene family in Solanum tuberosum:  Genome and transcriptome analysis to understand the roles of gene diversification in spatiotemporal gene expression and function.  Int. J. Mol. Sci vol 22: doi: 10.3390/ijms22010253.
  7. Herath, V., Gayral, M., Miller, R.K. Verchot, J (2020).  BiP and the unfolded protein response are important for potyvirus and potexvirus infection.  Plant Signaling and Behavior.  DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2020.1807723.
  8. Herath, V., Gayral, M., Adhikari, N, Miller, R.K., and Verchot J (2020).  Genome-wide identification and characterization of Solanum tuberosum BiP genes reveal the role of the promoter architecture in BiP gene diversity.  Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68407-2.
  9. Gayral, M., Gaguancela O.A., Vasquez, E., Herath, V., Flores, F. J., Dickman, M. B, and Verchot J.  (2020).  Multiple ER-to-nucleus stress signaling pathways are activated during Plantago asiatica mosaic virus and Turnip mosaic virus infection in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Vol 103, 1233-1245.  DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14798.
  10. Verchot, J, Herath, V., Urrutia, C.D., Gayral, M, Lyle K., Shires, M.K., Ong, K, and Byrne, D. (2020).  Development of a reverse genetic system for studying rose rosette virus in whole plants. Molec. Plant Microbe Interact.  Vol 33https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-04-20-0094-R.
  11. Azizi, A., Verchot J., Moieni, A., Shams-bakhsh, M (2020).   Efficient silencing gene construct for resistance to multiple common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) viruses vol 10, 278.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02276-4.
  12. Herath, V., Romay, G., Urrutia, C.D., and Verchot J (2020).  Family level phylogenies reveal relationships of plant viruses within the Order Bunyavirales.  Viruses, 12, 1010. doi:10.3390/v12091010.