Marilyn J. Roossinck, Ph.D

Professor

Noble Researcher since 1991

Roossinck Lab

Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, 1986, University of Colorado

Research emphasis: The Evolution of Infectious Virus Disease

Roossinck and her researchers are interested in understanding how and why viruses evolve to cause disease. The majority of viruses probably do not cause disease, but research in virology has been extremely biased. The only viruses that have been studied are those that cause disease in humans and their domestic plants and animals. Measures to control virus diseases, especially in plants, have been largely unsuccessful. It is unlikely that any effective measures will be designed until it is understood why normally benign, or even beneficial, viruses evolve to cause disease. Roossinck's lab is using several approaches to tackle this question: they are studying the dynamics of virus populations and the mechanisms of evolution using RNA plant viruses in the family Bromoviridae; they are assessing the biodiversity and ecology of wild plant viruses that generally do not cause disease, and they are studying the mechanisms of a lethal virus-induced disease in tomato.

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From The Microbeworld Radio Show, which is a daily, 90-second, syndicated radio feature on microbiology.
More information >

2/25/2008 (mp3)
5,000 virus genome project: A scientist who believes viruses bad reputation for causing disease is undeserved is on a mission to analyze the genetic sequences of 5,000 viruses in hopes of restoring their good names

12/07/2007 (mp3)
A plant, a fungus, and a virus: Most people consider viruses to be a bad thing, but one type of grass in Yellowstone National Park needs a virus to survive the extreme heat.

Recent Publications

Hajimorad, M. R., Ghabrial, S. A. , & Roossinck, M. J. (2009). De novo emergence of a novel satellite RNA of Cucumber mosaic virus following serial passages of the virus derived from RNA transcripts . Archives of Virology, 154 (1), 137-140 DOI:10.1007/s00705-008-0280-x.

Xu, P., Chen, F., Mannas, J. P. , Feldman, T., Sumner, L. W., & Roossinck, M. J. (2008). Virus infection improves drought tolerance. New Phytologist, 180 (4), 911-921.

Hammond, R. A., Andrewski, M. D., Roossinck, M. J., & Keller, N. P. (2008). Aspergillus mycoviruses are targets and suppressors of RNA silencing. Eukaryotic Cell, 7 (2), 350-357.

Ali, A., & Roossinck, M. J. (2007). A simple technique for separation of Cowpea chlorotic mottle virus from Cucumber mosaic virus in natural mixed infections. Journal of Virological Methods, 153, 163-167 DOI:10.1016/j.jviromet.2008.07.023.

Irian, S, Xu, P., Dai, X., Zhao, P. X., & Roossinck, M. J. (2007). Regulation of a virus-induced lethal disease in tomato revealed by LongSAGE analysis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, 20 (12), 1477-1488 DOI:10.1094 /MPMI -20-12-1477..