Dr. Yan Zhao

Research Molecular Biologist
USDA-ARS-PSI-MPPL
zhaoy@ba.ars.usda.gov
Phone: (301)-504-6202

New knowledge derived from genome information is critical for developing novel strategies to combat plant diseases caused by spiroplasmas and phytoplasmas.

One of our research objectives is, through genome annotation and cross-genomic comparison, to understand the molecular basis of spiroplasma/phytoplasma pathogenesis and to identify genes involved in pathogen-host interactions.

Our research is also devoted to development and use of Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation and viral vector-mediated transient expression technologies for genetic engineering of disease-resistant plants.

 
Three types of prophage genomes, Phφαw, Phφαz, and Phφαwz, integrated in the chromosome of
‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’-related strain OYM (Wei et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008 105, 11827-11832)

Click on image to visit virtual gel website
Virtual RFLP analysis for rapid phytoplasma classification (Wei et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2007 57, 1855-1867; 2008 58, 2368-2377)
 

ATP-binding cassette proteins and their predicted functions in Spiroplasma kunkelii (Zhao et al. Mol Genet Genomics 2004 271, 325-338)

Phloem-specific expression of marker genes in transgenic cherry (left) and strawberry (right) plants (Zhao et al.Plant Cell Rep 2004 23, 224-230)