NRI has secured one of Europe’s most competitive research awards, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, to lead pioneering research exploring how plant viruses manipulate insect brain signals to enhance their spread.
The two-year fellowship, funded by the European Union, will support the WhiteBrain project, which will investigate how the tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) reprogrammes the brain of its vector, the whitefly, altering the insect’s behaviour in ways that help the virus spread between plants.
The prestigious fellowship has been awarded to Dr Maruthi Gowda, Professor of Molecular Plant Pathology at NRI and his postdoc researcher, Dr Niayesh Shahmohammadi. MSCA Fellowships are widely regarded as a hallmark of scientific excellence, supporting outstanding early-career researchers undertaking innovative and internationally significant research.
As part of the project, researchers at NRI will develop the first brain map of the whitefly, opening new possibilities for understanding how plant viruses interact with insect nervous systems at the cellular level.
Whiteflies are among the world’s most destructive agricultural pests, damaging a wide range of crops including tomatoes, cassava, cotton and beans. Beyond feeding damage, they are particularly harmful because they transmit over 100 plant viruses, including TYLCV, which is one of the most devastating and economically significant plant viruses, causing up to 100% yield loss in tomatoes. It also heavily impacts other crops and ornamental plants, such as eggplants, common beans, and potatoes.
‘This fellowship allows us to ask questions that were previously impossible to address,’ said Dr Shahmohammadi. ‘By understanding how viruses alter insect behaviour at the cellular level, we can begin to design smarter and more sustainable ways to block disease transmission and protect food security.’
Professor Gowda, who will lead the project, added: ‘This award recognises both the originality of the WhiteBrain project and highlights NRI as a centre of excellence for tackling global challenges in agriculture, plant health and sustainability.’
The fellowship award, worth €276,188, further strengthens NRI’s international leadership in plant health, sustainable agriculture and impact-driven research. It also reinforces the institute’s reputation for internationally recognised scientific innovation addressing major global challenges.