Project properties
Title Investigation of a new virus found in sugar beet
Group Virology, Laboratory of
Project type thesis
Credits 36
Supervisor(s) Sharella Schop
Examiner(s) Monique van Oers
Contact info Sharella.Schop@wur.nl
Begin date 2022/02/01
End date 2023/02/01
Description I am looking for an enthusiastic student who is looking for a challenging thesis topic. During your thesis you will be working at the Department of Virology on a recently found virus in sugar beet. Preliminary sequence results have indicated that we have identified a Turnip Yellows Virus (TuYV) isolate in sugar beet. TuYV is known to infect a wide variety of plant species. However, this virus is classified based on the finding that it does NOT infect sugar beet. Thus, the classification of TuYV might be wrong. In this thesis project, we would like to confirm that we have an isolate of TuYV by High Throughput Sequencing. Subsequently, we would like to identify the differences in genome sequence between our sugar beet infecting isolate and the original TuYV isolates. This information is important to understand the risk for the sugar beet industry of (other) non-sugar beet infecting polerovirus isolates. Next to that, for further investigation of the virus’ host range and to allow for reverse genetic studies, an infectious cDNA clone of this isolate would be very useful. Therefore, the main aim of your thesis will be to produce a full-length cDNA clone by means of Gibson assembly. If you are interested in plant-virus interactions and virus epidemiology, and you are eager to learn molecular techniques, this research topic might be just for you. If interested, please contact me by e-mail; Sharella.schop@wur.nl
Used skills PCR, Gibson assembly, Cloning, Sanger sequencing, HTS, transfection, agro-infiltration, data analysis, scientific writing
Requirements For doing a Msc-thesis or internship at Virology, the course Molecular virology (VIR-30306) or Fundamental and Applied Virology (VIR-30806) should be completed.