معرفی
Dr. Kathleen Martin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology at Auburn University's College of Agriculture. Her research focuses on insect vector-borne plant diseases, particularly the interactions between plant viruses and their aphid vectors. She specializes in metagenomic analyses, viral protein localization, and developing recombinant viral expression systems. Her work integrates molecular biology, entomology, and plant pathology to address emerging crop diseases.
Key research areas include:
- Characterization of plant rhabdoviruses and nucleorhabdoviruses
- Vector competence studies in aphids and thrips
- Development of diagnostic tools for new plant pathogens
- RNA silencing mechanisms in plant-virus interactions
Recent studies have identified novel pathogens like Soybean Vein Necrosis Virus in peanut crops and elucidated vector-pathogen dynamics in cotton systems. Dr. Martin has contributed to creating viral vector systems for gene expression studies and advanced understanding of cross-kingdom protein interactions. Her work bridges basic science with applied agricultural solutions.
Her publications reflect a strong focus on emerging viruses, vector biology, and molecular tools for virology research. She collaborates on projects addressing disease management strategies for Alabama's agricultural industries.
