1) to produce novel information of the various stages of the virus multiplication cycle (protein synthesis, RNA replication, virus movement, encapsidation), and how these functions are localized and coordinated within the infected cells.

 

2) to tackle the disease problem caused by the genus Potyvirus, which is economically the most devastating group of plant viruses. Host factors involved in viral multiplication represent potential targets for virus control. Their identification and functional characterization is one of the major frontiers in virus research.

 

3) to exploit viruses as gene vectors, viral regulatory sequences as valuable elements in plant expression vectors and virus particles in nanobiotechnology applications.