Rubino Luisa

My research focuses on positive strand RNA plant virus replication in model systems like viruses belonging to the genus Tombusvirus and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Tombusviruses are used as model viruses to identify the molecular mechanisms of the replication of viral genomic RNA and subviral RNA molecules in plant and yeast. Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents an preferred model to investigate virus-host interactions and to identify host factors involved in virus replication.
The analyses of targeting and anchoring mechanisms of the virus replicase proteins to cell membranes, and of the formation of the viral replication complex represent a key step. These studies, with particular reference to the interaction of virus replication with mitochondria, may have practical relevance to the development of new antiviral strategies and can be extended to other viruses. In fact, the effect of the expression of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural proteins is being studied in S. cerevisiae.
Virus taxonomy is concerned with the classification and nomenclature of virus species. Taxonomy studies allow for the connection of virus biological, pathological and clinical characteristics in an evolutionistic framework. In this context, taxonomy studies may have practical applications, since the classification of a new viral entity can facilitate the development of vaccines and therapies.