Research Interests
We study plant viruses. My lab has pioneered studies on small RNA viruses of the Family Tombusviridae. These are some of the smallest of viruses infecting eukaryotes. We have contributed to understanding fundamental aspects of virus assembly, RNA replication and the molecular basis of virus-host interactions. Recently, we identified a transcription factor in Arabidopsis that interacts specifically with the coat protein of turnip crinkle virus (TCV) to trigger a resistance gene (R-gene) in this host. The completion of the genome sequence of Arabidopsis, and the demonstration that R-genes in plants function as an active defense system against pathogens make our model system particularly suitable for the study of host-pathogen interactions. We have also recently shown that the RNA viruses we study, like most RNA viruses, encode a silencing suppressor gene that protects the virus from the host silencing defense response. Understanding the role of R-genes and silencing repressors is the primary focus of our current research on viral-host interactions. Research applications in the area of plant biotechnology include the development of novel strategies for genetically engineering resistance against viral pathogens, and the use of RNA plant viruses as transient vectors for vaccine development against animal viruses.
Recent Papers
Feng Qu, Xiaohong Ye, Guichuan Hou, Shirley Sato, Thomas E. Clemente and T. Jack Morris. 2005. RDR6 has a broad spectrum but temperature dependent antiviral defense role in Nicotiana benthamiana. J Virol., 79: 15209-15217.
Ren, T., Qu, F., and Morris, T.J. 2005. Turnip crinkle virus coat protein binds to and prevents the nuclear localization of an Arabidopsis NAC transcription factor. Virology 331, 316-324.
D. M. Pérez Filgueira, M. Mozgovoj, A. Wigdorovitz, M. J. Dus Santos, V. Parreño, K. Trono, F.M. Fernandez, C. Carrillo, T.J. Morris and M.V. Borca . 2004. Passive Protection to Bovine Rotavirus (BRV) Infection Induced by a BRV VP8* Produced in Plants Using a TMV-based Vector. Arch Virol. 149, 2337-2348.
Chang Won Choi, Feng Qu, Tao Ren, Xiaohong Ye and T. Jack Morris. 2004. The RNA silencing suppressor function of Turnip crinkle virus coat protein cannot be attributed to its interaction with the Arabidopsis protein TIP. J Gen Virol 85, 3415-3420.
D. M. Pérez Filgueira, B. P. Brayfield, S. Phiri, M.V. Borca, C. Wood and T. J. Morris. 2004. Preserved antigenicity of HIV-1 p24 produced and purified in high yields from plants inoculated with a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-derived vector. J. Virological Methods 121, 201-208.
D. M. Pérez Filgueira, P. Zamorano, M. Domínguez , O. Taboga, P. Del Médico, A. Romera, T.J. Morris , M. V. Borca, and A. Sadir. 2003. Bovine Herpes Virus gD protein produced in plants using a recombinant TMV vector possesses authentic antigenicity. Vaccine 21, 4201-4209.
Qu, F., Ren, T., and Morris, T.J. 2003. The coat protein of turnip crinkle virus suppresses posttranscriptional gene silencing at an early initiation step. J. Virol. 77: 511-522.
Qu, F., and Morris, T.J. 2002. Efficient infection of Nicotiana benthamiana by Tomato bushy stunt virus is facilitated by the coat protein and maintained by p19 through suppression of gene silencing. MPMI 15: 193-202.
Hall, J.S., French, R., Morris, T.J. & Stenger, D.C., 2001. Structure and temporal dynamics of populations within Wheat Streak Mosaic virus isolates. J. Virol., 75: 10231-10243.
Hall, J.S., Stenger, D.C., Hein, G.L. Morris, T.J. and Stenger, D.C. 2001. Three distinct mechanisms facilitate genetic isolation of sympatric Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus lineage. Virology 282: 230-236.
Cohen, Y., F. Qu, A. Gisel, T. J. Morris and P. C. Zambryski. 2000. Nuclear Localization of Turnip Crinkle Virus Movement Protein P8. Virology 273: 276-285.
Ren, T, Qu, F., & Morris, T.J. 2000. HRT gene function requires interaction between a NAC protein and viral capsid protein to confer resistance to Turnip Crinkle Virus. Plant Cell 12:1917-1925.
Choi, I.R., Stenger, D.C., Morris, T.J. and French, R. 2000. A plant virus vector for systemic expression of foreign genes in cereals. The Plant Journal 23: 547-555.
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