MSCA Doctoral Candidates: Research highlights

Discover ViroiDoc DCs' latest research achievements, publications, and secondment activities across Europe.

The Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks (MSCA DN) programme is committed to training the next generation of researchers through interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and cross-sector mobility. Within the ViroiDoc project, our Doctoral Candidates (DCs) are making significant contributions to plant health research while benefiting from advanced scientific training and secondments at partner institutions across Europe.

We are pleased to share some of their recent research activities and achievements.

Research highlights

ViroiDoc DCs are advancing knowledge on viroid biology, plant–pathogen interactions, and innovative diagnostic and control strategies through a wide range of complementary research topics.

• Octave Lacroix is investigating the effects of heat and drought stress on the phenotype of hop plants infected with CBCVd and HLVd, with a particular focus on photosynthetic activity, non-photochemical quenching, and plant architecture.
• Lena Michailidou is conducting Virus-Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS)-based functional analysis of ten selected host RNA-binding proteins, combining cloning and infection assays to evaluate their impact on Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) accumulation and symptom development in Nicotiana benthamiana.
• Linh Thi Thuy Le recently published the preprint Amplification-free CRISPR/Cas13a-based viroid detection in RNA extracts from infected plants, presenting an innovative approach for viroid detection.
• Judith López Ponce is developing a CRISPR–dCas–GFP strategy to visualize the movement of Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) using sequence-specific crRNA guides targeting the viroid genome.
• Fabio D'Alessandro is studying host–viroid interactions across both viroid families by integrating transcriptomic and phenotypic approaches across multiple host species to better understand the molecular basis of pathogenesis.

International secondments

International mobility is a cornerstone of the MSCA Doctoral Networks programme, providing DCs with opportunities to gain experience in diverse research and innovation environments while strengthening scientific collaboration across Europe.

• Weigeng Liu is commencing a six-month secondment at the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Brno, where the research focuses on the construction of electrochemical genosensors. The work prioritizes electrode modification and detection scheme optimization to enhance analytical performance and improve detection sensitivity.
• João Colaço is going to Poland for a month, the secondment will take place at Innosil, a start-up dedicated to the development of bioactive substances that stimulate plant immunity. The work will focus on gaining industrial experience by joining ongoing experiments and perform data analysis.
  Advancing research through collaboration
• Lara Palatinus is developing innovative RNA sprays to silence host genes and directly target viroids in order to reduce viroid titre in Tobacco BY2 cells. During a secondment at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) in October and November, these approaches will be evaluated under collaborative research conditions.

These activities demonstrate the breadth of expertise within the ViroiDoc consortium, spanning plant physiology, molecular biology, functional genomics, CRISPR technologies, transcriptomics, biosensor development, RNA-based technologies, plant immunity, and plant health diagnostics.

By combining cutting-edge research with international mobility, interdisciplinary training, and collaboration between academic and industrial partners, the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Networks programme equips Doctoral Candidates with the scientific, technical, and transferable skills needed to address current and future challenges in plant health research.

We congratulate our DCs on their achievements and look forward to sharing further updates as their research progresses.

Photo was taken during the ViroiDoc Days in Strasbourg in June 2026, where the programme featured a range of advanced training sessions covering essential methodologies and concepts in viroid research, alongside modules focused on transferable skills.