Novel methods

Team role

The team plays a key role in the development of novel diagnostic and identification techniques for a range of target organisms. The overall aim is to take novel technologies from conception to application primarily in the field of plant health and crop protection. The team also conducts research into the biology of plant and insect pathogens, and the interaction between pathogens and the microbial communities they inhabit. Key themes are outlined below:

• Development of in-field or point-of-care diagnostics based on both serological lateral flow devices (along with partners Forsite Diagnostics Ltd) as well as novel molecular approaches. The work spans the exploitation of real-time PCR in the field through to development of novel rapid DNA extraction procedures and isothermal amplification techniques.
  
  Recent project: www.portcheck.eu.co.uk
• Development of laboratory based diagnostic and identification tools based on exploitation of genomics technologies such as real-time PCR, microarrays and next generation or massively parallel sequencing.
  
  Recent project: www.bio-chip.co.uk
• Exploring how plant and bee diseases can be controlled by assessing and manipulating microbial communities.
  
  Recent project: Integration of non water-based control and precision irrigation to suppress common scab of potato.
• Development of DNA barcoding techniques for the identification of plant pathogens and pests, especially those of plant health concern in Europe.
  
  Recent project: QBOL - Quarantine Barcoding of Life
• Development of methods for timely and safe responses to emergency situations involving biological hazards, for example by detection of highly pathogenic organisms in the environment.
• Development of immunological reagents primarily for use in field diagnostics, working with our 'spin out' company Forsite Diagnostics.
  
  Recent project: Developing field testing kits for the honey bee pathogen Nosema Ceranae as part of an EU consortium - Clean Hive

Next generation sequencing

Next generation sequencing has become an integral part of the team's work, having acquired a Roche GS FLX Pyrosequencer. The enormous power of this instrument is changing the way we identify and study pathogens and environmental communities.

Recent team publications

• Download a list of the team's most recent publications.

Key team members

Neil Boonham |

Neil is a molecular plant virologist with an interest in characterisation of new emerging virus diseases. In recent years Neil has been specialising in the development of new methods for the detection of plant pathogens and the identification of pests. Current research includes the development of molecular methods for in-field (point of care) detection of pathogens and the exploitation of genomic methods such as microarrays and next generation sequencing for the detection of plant pathogens. Neil also has an ongoing interest in the detection of pathogens in difficult matrices and as a result has been involved in the development of techniques for the detection and quantification of pathogens in soil and environmental samples.

Richard Thwaites |

Richard is a molecular microbiologist whose research interests include characterisation of bacterial pathogens of plants and insects and the microbial communities in which they exist. Current research includes development of molecular detection methods for a variety of plant, insect, animal and human pathogens. Recently advances in sequencing technology, including pyrosequencing, are being exploited to characterise whole microbial communities with the aim of recognising how communities respond to the presence of pathogens and the protective effect they have against disease. This work is currently being conducted in relation to foulbrood diseases of honeybees. Richard also has an active research interest in bacteriophage biology, and in particular the use of phage to control bacterial pathogens of plants.

Jeff Peters |

Jeff is a molecular plant pathologist with experience in general plant pathology, particularly epidemiology of diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi. One key area of interest is in the development and use of molecular methods to measure inoculum in soil and propagation material to predict disease risk in potatoes and other crops. Key target pathogens include Colletotricum coccodes, Rhizoctonia solani and Verticillium spp.

Current research interests include:

• Investigating survival and spatial distribution of soil inoculum (Rhizoctonia solani, Potato mop top virus and its vector Spongospora subterranea)
• Economic impact of quarantine viruses (Pepino mosaic virus)
• Investigating the biological effects of suppressive soils using next generation sequencing techniques
• Interaction and impact of Fusarium species complexes in potato and other crops
• Jeff is a member of the international potato diagnostics consortium.