Dr. Amit Levy
Associate Professor - Plant Pathology
General Interest
My general area of interest is the biology of pathogen-host interactions. One of the lab's research focuses is the biology and molecular characteristics of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) infection, and identification of the molecular and cellular events which underlie the virus' ability to infect and spread within a plant. An additional focus of investigation is the citrus greening causal agent, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Both CTV and Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus are insect-transmitted phloem restricted pathogens, and we are interested in uncovering the mechanisms of their systemic movement in plants and their transmission by insects. Revealing various step in their cycles of infection would enable the development of novel disease controls.
