Research areas
My lab investigates the interactions of plant RNA viruses with host cell membranes during replication and cell-to-cell transport.
Plant viruses are a major threat to food security. Unlike viruses infecting animals, they need to cross the barrier of the cell wall during infection. This step constitutes a severe bottleneck in the infection process, and is therefore a promising target for the development of new antiviral crop protection strategies.
RNA viruses assemble replication complexes on membrane surfaces and extensively reorganise membrane composition and shape in the process. Membrane interactions also play a role in plant viruses intercellular transport because this occurs through cell wall-spanning nanopores called plasmodesmata that consist of two concentric membrane tubules. Recently, I discovered that in some plant viruses, the processes of replication and movement are coupled in modified membrane structures at the entrances of the plasmodesmata.
We use a combination of confocal and super-resolution microscopy of RNA and proteins, protein biochemistry, in vitro reconstitution of membrane-bound protein complexes, and lipidomics to understand how plant virus-encoded proteins modify cellular membranes for replication and movement, and how this knowledge can be translated into crop protection strategies and biotechnology applications.
PhD supervision
- Zhe Yu
Selected publications
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Open access
Lansky, L., Drescher, F., Sugic, K., Diesing, K., Hackel, A., Wahl, V., Tilsner, J. & Kühn, C., Feb 2026, In: Contact. 9, p. 1-23 23 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Barr, Z. K. & Tilsner, J., 27 Jan 2026, In: Journal of Experimental Botany. 77, 3, p. 692–696 5 p., eraf278.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
Burnett, D., Hussein, M., Barr, Z. K., Näther, L. N., Wright, K. M. & Tilsner, J., 9 Apr 2025, In: PLoS Pathogens. 21, 4, p. 1-31 31 p., e1013049.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Pérez-Sancho, J., Smokvarska, M., Dubois, G., Glavier, M., Sritharan, S., Moraes, T. S., Moreau, H., Dietrich, V., Platre, M. P., Paterlini, A., Li, Z. P., Fouillen, L., Grison, M. S., Cana-Quijada, P., Immel, F., Wattelet, V., Ducros, M., Brocard, L., Chambaud, C. & Luo, Y. & 14 others, , 20 Feb 2025, In: Cell. 188, 4, p. 958-977 20 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Xue, M., Sofer, L., Simon, V., Arvy, N., Diop, M., Lion, R., Beucher, G., Bordat, A., Tilsner, J., Gallois, J.-L. & German-Retana, S., 20 May 2024, In: Molecular Plant Pathology. 25, 5, e13466.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Barr, Z. & Tilsner, J., 12 Feb 2023, The plant cytoskeleton: methods and protocols. Hussey, P. J. & Wang, P. (eds.). New York, NY: Humana Press, p. 193-202 10 p. (Methods in molecular biology; vol. 2604).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Open access
Barr, Z. K., Werner, T. & Tilsner, J., 21 Aug 2023, In: Plants. 12, 16, 15 p., 3015.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
Méndez-López, E., Donaire, L., Gosálvez, B., DÃaz-Vivancos, P., Sánchez-Pina, M. A., Tilsner, J. & Aranda, M. A., 1 Apr 2023, In: New Phytologist. 238, 1, p. 332-348 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Tilsner, J. & Kriechbaumer, V., 20 Aug 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Molecular Plant Pathology. Early View, 8 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Carvalho, S. L., Tilsner, J., Figueira, A. R. & Carvalho, C. M., 1 Dec 2022, In: Archives of Virology. 167, p. 2555-2566 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review