Elin Falla
@elinfalla.bsky.social
Plant Sciences PhD student at University of Cambridge. Theoretical & Computational Epidemiology. Mathematical modelling of aphid-transmitted NPT viruses. @bspp.bsky.social Ambassador
My second first-author paper from my PhD is out! (co-author @nikcunniffe.bsky.social) Read about how planting a companion crop alongside a main crop confers disease control benefits for aphid-transmitted plant viruses, by changing aphid behaviour: doi.org/10.1111/ppa....
I'm incredibly pleased to say I have passed my PhD viva, with no corrections required. I am very thankful to many people, particularly my supervisor @nikcunniffe.bsky.social, and my partner, friends and family who have supported me throughout. @caiuscollege.bsky.social @camplantsci.bsky.social
How can farmers use models to prevent wheat disease? Watch the video from @camplantepidem.bsky.social to see how subsistence farmers across Africa & South Asia can use forecasting models to protect their crops. 📽️ tinyurl.com/3yecskf4 Funded by @cambridgefestival.bsky.social 🙏 🧪#PlantSci
I am very excited to share my first publication from my PhD work: A FLOE-related protein regulates the two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth transition in the moss Physcomitrium patens url: journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
A FLOE-related protein regulates the two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth transition in the moss Physcomitrium patens
Summary: The transition to 3D growth is negatively regulated by a FLOE-related protein that alters cytokinin perception and cell division processes in the moss Physcomitrium patens.
journals.biologists.com
The preprint of my second first-author paper (with @nikcunniffe.bsky.social) is out! Read to find out how virus-resistant companion plants can control spread of non-persistently transmitted plant viruses: www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.31220... @camplantsci.bsky.social @caiuscollege.bsky.social
My first first-author paper is out in @PLOSCompBiol! Read about why including aphid vector behavior is important for modelling NPT plant virus transmission, in particular when the virus is manipulating plant host phenotype: journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/a…
Why aphid virus retention needs more attention: Modelling aphid behaviour and virus manipulation in non-persistent plant virus transmission
Author summary Plant viruses can cause devastating disease epidemics. Non-persistently transmitted viruses are almost always vectored (transmitted between plants) by aphids. Experiments show virus infection can affect whether aphids are attracted to plants (by altering how infected plants ‘smell’), as well as whether aphids settle for an extended feed after a brief initial probe (by altering how infected plants ‘taste’). Since virus transmission requires an individual aphid to briefly probe an infected plant followed by one or more healthy plant(s), this strongly affects disease transmission. However, most studies exploring virus epidemics do not account for how aphid feeding behaviour affects how long an aphid holds the virus for, or that an aphid could infect multiple healthy plants before losing the virus. We use mathematical modelling to dissect how these aspects of aphid feeding behaviour affect virus transmission, particularly when viruses manipulate the ‘smell’ and ‘taste’ of plants. We show how previous studies, by omitting crucial aspects of aphid feeding behaviour, underestimate how viruses can promote their own transmission. We also highlight that there are very few experimental studies exploring the number of plants an aphid with the virus can consecutively infect, which is a key parameter affecting the severity of epidemics.
journals.plos.org
My talk at the Plant Pathology conference #PPATH24 won the PH Gregory Prize for best student talk! Thanks to @BS_PP for organizing such a great conference
Very excited to be at @BS_PP ‘s Plant Pathology conference for the next few days, and honoured to have been selected to give a talk on my PhD work in the PH Gregory Prize session today! #PPATH24 x.com/BS_PP/status/1…
I’ve been in Spain this week to give a talk on my PhD work at the European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology. Thanks to the organisers for hosting such a great event in the (very very) sunny Toledo! #ECMTB24
The preprint of my very first first-author paper (with @nikcunniffe) is out!! Have a read to find out why models of non-persistent plant virus transmission should include aphid vector dispersal and feeding behaviours @cambridgesbs @plantsci @CaiusCollege doi.org/10.31220/agriR…
Really valuable day learning more about agricultural sustainability and agri-tech - thanks to the organisers! x.com/Agri_Tech_E/st…
Talk completed! I had a great time talking about my and @nikcunniffe ‘s model, and how virus-induced plant phenotypes can affect aphid behavior and virus transmission. Takeaway = remember to model the vector! Thanks @MikabAley + @UnderGardener1 for your excellent questions #iew13
Great to be at the 13th International Epidemiology Workshop in Brazil! Interesting first day of talks; I’m excited to present my work tomorrow morning on modelling aphid behavior to understand NPT virus manipulation of host plants #iew13
Recently I did a poster + flash talk at the British Crop Production Council Diseases Review 2023 - was super interesting to hear diverse perspectives on balancing food security and environmental responsibility! Photo below of me and the other presenters 🥬
My final presentation of conference season approaches! Tomorrow (Thurs) I'll be talking about my work at #ICPP2023 in the "Modelling and analysis to better understand and predict epidemics" session at 8:30 - come along! My talk nicely follows up @nikcunniffe's great talk on Tues.
I’m in Denver in the US, ready to give a talk at #PlantHealth2023! I’m speaking in the “Interesting Topics in Virology” technical session at 12:30 tomorrow (Sunday) - come along to learn about modelling aphid feeding behaviors in epidemiological models!
Very excited and privileged to be a part of this - go to Cambridge Botanic Gardens (@CUBotanicGarden) to find a board about my work on modelling plant diseases, in the context of the impacts on cucumbers! x.com/CUBotanicGarde…
Excited to take over @BS_PP’s twitter this afternoon as part of #PlantHealthWeek to talk about my work #HelpingKeepPlantsHealthy and role as a new ambassador! x.com/BS_PP/status/1…
So happy to have been able to give a talk on my work at #NoCaSS2023 - my first talk at a conference! Thanks so much to the organisers for such an interesting and engaging event 🎉🎉 t.co/9qJ08T8DAW
Thanks to @CamInfectDis for having me to talk about my PhD work! I spoke about a novel compartmental model of NPT viruses I’m developing that more realistically tracks aphid vector behaviours. 🌿 x.com/CamInfectDis/s…
