Saving Cassava : A novel gene in a deadly virus

木薯褐条病（CBSD）是由木薯褐条病毒（CBSV）引起的，可使易感品种的根收成损失高达100%，通常为60-70%，并因坏死损害而降低市场价值，造成重大损失。CBSD已成为东非木薯生产的一个极其严重的制约因素，并对整个非洲的木薯生产构成威胁。由于它可能对整个非洲的粮食和经济安全造成影响，CBSD被列为世界上七大最危险的植物病害之一。本博士学位的目的是对在CBSV中发现的一种非常不寻常的基因进行详细的分子分析，这种基因对这些类型的病毒来说是非常独特的。该博士将加入一个研究媒介传播植物疾病（特别是植物病毒）的国际合作小组，该小组将设在生物科学学院加里·福斯特教授和安迪·贝利博士的实验室，并与格林威治大学的学者和非洲各地的研究小组密切合作。

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD), caused by the Cassava brown streak viruses (CBSV) causes losses up to 100% and typically >60-70% of root harvest in susceptible varieties, as well as substantial losses through reducing the market value due to necrotic lesions. CBSD has become an extremely serious constraint to cassava production in East Africa as well as a threat to cassava production throughout Africa. CBSD is listed as one of the seven most dangerous plant diseases in the world for the impact it can have on food and economic security throughout Africa. The aim of this PhD will be to carry out a detailed molecular analysis of a highly unusual gene found within the CBSV that is highly unique to these types of viruses. This PhD will join an international collaborative team working on vector-borne plant diseases in particular plant viruses and will be based in the School of Biological Sciences in the laboratory of Professor Gary Foster and Dr Andy Bailey and working in close collaboration with academics at University of Greenwich, and research groups across Africa.