Jeanmarie Verchot

Professional Summary

My research focuses on two major fields of virus-host interactions.

First we study RNA virus interactions with cellular membranes. Plant cells have an amazing ability to adapt and survive the impacts of virus infection. Cellular membranes provide a network for communication with all parts of the cell. Membranes vesicles transport cargo to various locations within and the cell as well as depositing cargo outside of the cell. Membranes contain channels for ion signaling and sensors for activating changes in gene expression. All RNA viruses depend upon cellular membranes as scaffolds for virus replication, encapsidation, and egress. Creating these scaffolds requires significant rearrangement of cellular membranes. Our investigations are to understand the cell adaptive machinery to the changes that viruses bring to cells. We are particularly interested in the cellular adaptive machinery, known as the ER stress machinery, which is well conserved between plants and animals and humans. The primary goal of our work is to understand how plant virus proteins at the ER manipulate cellular signaling to maintain a cellular environment that is favorable for infection.

Second, we are developing a new program to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing rose rosette virus infection. We have developed an infectious clone technology and use Arabidopsis and roses to study the genetic basis of infection.

National Service

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

2013-2015 President, OSU Sigma XI chapter

2015-2021 Senior Editor for Molecular Plant Pathology Journal