Publications

Papaya Viruses

Papaya Meleira Virus

Ditylenchus

Pest Risk Assessment

Mycoviruses

Biotechnology

Symptoms on Cucurbits & Papaya

My husband's webpage

My daughter's webpage

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I am a Visiting Scientist at EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology - Plant Quarantine. I have been working on Plant Molecular Virology and Mycology and I am particularly interested in Pest Risk Assesments, Plant Introduction and Quarantine Issues. I have taken a course in Pest Risk Assessments and I am working on the development of molecular diagnostic techniques for the identification of pests of quarantine importance for Brazil. I am bilingual (English mother and Brazilian father) and I also do translations Portuguese/English/Portuguese of documents dealing with Pest Risk Assessment and other plant science issues.

I worked as Post-Doc Scholar at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, on the characterization of proteins induced during micovirus infection of a plant pathogenic fungus. These proteins have an important role in pathogenesis and we used them in the development of a novel approach to control Peronospora tabacina the causal agent of Blue Mold in tobacco, via genetically modified plants. These plants are intended for use in molecular farming. I also worked in a project to differentiate Bean Pod Mottle Comovirus strains. This is an important virus in soy, and can reduce plant vigor and yields, particularly when in association with other viruses.

I graduated from the University of Florida with a Ph.D in Plant Pathology My dissertation research focused on the molecular characterization of a novel potyvirus found in watermelon in Florida, Watermelon Leaf Motle Potyvirus.

I have an M.S. degree in Plant Pathology from the Universidade de Brasilia, in Brasilia. I worked with viruses infecting cucurbits and papaya: Papaya Ringspot Virus type P, Papaya Ringspot Virus type W, Watermelon Mosaic Potyvirus 2, Squash Mosaic Comovirus, Cucumber Mosaic Cucumovirus. I worked at the Cell Biology and Plant Pathology Departments, developing diagnostic tools, purifying viruses, preparing antisera, and using electron microscopy and other techniques to identifiy and characterize plant viruses. I had the opportunity of teaching undergraduate and graduate students virus purification and serology, and other interesting tools that allow virologists to identify and differentiate viruses. This also allowed me to work with other plant viruses including Tobravirus and Rhabdovirus.

I graduated with a B.Sc degree in Biology from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil. As an undergrad I worked at the Oceanographic Institute of the University, I spent a lot of time looking at copepods and diatoms and wishing that I could join the Navy. The brazilian Navy would not take women at the time and I moved on plants on land and plant pathology. This turned out to be a good alternative.

My three kids have been supportive of Mom and all her studying and intense curiosity. Is there anything sweeter than a toddler who brings you a diseased leaf, and very lovingly gives you a "little fungus" for your collection, when you need the last impossible to find five species, not seen in a semester of mycology, and after three nights of frost have killed every leaf in sight?

During my PhD I worked on the identification of Geminivirus from Brazil together with the Plant Virology Laboratory of the Departamento de Fitotecnia, of the Universidade Federal do Ceara in Fortaleza. And I also was a Teaching Assistant for an undergraduate Plant Pathology course at UF.

The wall paper is my favorite pinwheel (yes, I do have one), and these are some electron micrographs showing purified watermelon mosaic 2 virus (WMV-2) particles; cytological alterations caused by WMV-2 on bean 'BT-2'; and pepper ringspot virus (PRV) on tomato; and a photo of a watermelon plant showing symptoms of infection with the brazilian isolate of WMV-2