研究主題(Research Interests)

病毒是絕對寄生的病原，植物一旦感染病毒沒有有效的藥劑可以治療。而交互保護是類似疫苗的概念。先用輕症病毒感染植物寄主，使其產生免疫力。未來遇到野生型的強系病毒侵染便能及時提供良好之抗性 。 

Viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens, and once plants become infected, no effective antiviral chemicals are available to cure the disease. One promising strategy for virus disease management is cross-protection, which is conceptually similar to vaccination. In this approach, plants are  inoculated with a mild virus strain to induce immunity. Consequently, when the plants are subsequently challenged by a virulent wild-type strain, the pre-established resistance provides effective protection against virus disease.This study aims to develop a non-invasive platform using Raman spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging technologies for the screening and identification of mild virus strains.

病毒基體小、複製速度快，因此變異快且多，容易適應各種植物寄主。圓葉煙草(N. benthamiana)對於多數的病毒都極為感病，而馬鈴薯Y病毒屬(potyvirus)之蕪菁嵌紋病毒(TuMV)寄主範圍廣，基因體變異快速。所以本研究利用TuMV在圓葉煙草適應性病毒株(Nb-evolved)探討其關鍵的病毒和植物寄主因子及相關機制為何。 

Viruses rapidly evolve due to their small genomes and high replication rates, allowing them to adapt to diverse plant hosts. Using a Nicotiana benthamiana-adapted Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) strain (Nb-evolved), this study aims to identify the critical viral determinants and host factors governing virus adaptation and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying virus–host coevolution. 

多數RNA病毒感染奎藜、紅藜和綠藜等藜屬植物時會誘導過敏性反應(hypersensitive response)，在葉片上形成單斑而限制病毒擴張。但是輕症病毒(mild strain)則不受此限制。所以本研究利用此輕症病毒在奎藜(C. quinoa)不產生單斑的特性，以及另一病毒載體(ALSV)誘導寄主免疫相關基因靜默來探討關鍵的寄主基因及其機制為何。

Most RNA viruses induce a hypersensitive response (HR) when infecting Chenopodium species, such as Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, and C. ficifolium. This defense response results in the formation of localized necrotic lesions that restrict viral spread. In contrast, mild virus strains can evade or overcome this restriction and establish infection without inducing local lesions. Taking advantage of this unique phenotype, our research utilizes mild virus strains that do not elicit lesion formation in C. quinoa, together with an Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system to suppress host immunity-related genes. This approach aims to identify the key host factors involved in HR-mediated antiviral defense and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. 

植物病毒病害雖然無有效的農藥針對病毒本身，但是透過鑑定分析得知何種病毒後，便可就其媒介昆蟲加以控制，或是先行檢測種苗。以利使用健康種苗和減少環境中病毒量。

Although antiviral chemicals are not available for controlling plant viruses, early detection and accurate identification of viral pathogens are critical for disease management. Information obtained from viral diagnosis allows targeted control of insect vectors and screening of planting materials before cultivation. Consequently, the utilization of virus-free seedlings can be promoted, while reducing virus prevalence and limiting the spread of viral diseases in agricultural ecosystems.