ViroiDoc goes global: Secondment at UNLP

MSCA Fellow Judith López on her second ViroiDoc secondment at the University La Plata - IBBM Institute, UNLP (Argentina).

Judith López Ponce completed her second one month secondment in April 2026 at the Institute of Biotechnology and Molecular Biology (IBBM), National University of La Plata (UNLP), Argentina, within the Laboratory of Virology and Plant Biotechnology. Her secondment was supervised by Dr. Eduardo Peña and Dr. Ana Marchesini.

Judith’s secondment focused on training in epifluorescence and confocal microscopy, subcellular localization and live cell imaging, protoplast isolation, as well as image analysis and movie generation using Fiji software.

The main objective was to gain expertise in RNA labelling and in vivo RNA visualization using the BgIG system applied to the Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) movement protein (MP) mRNA in Nicotiana benthamiana (Peña et al., 2021). Although efficient mRNA labelling was challenging, training was successfully achieved in the visualization of MP fused to GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) localizing to distinct cortical particles presumed to represent MP bound to its own mRNA (as previously shown, Peña et al., 2021).

Reflecting on her experience, Judith shared: “The secondment had a significant impact on both my technical and professional development, providing intensive training in epifluorescence and confocal microscopy. As my project is primarily based on microscopy, this experience was particularly valuable. I gained substantial practical expertise in live-cell imaging and subcellular localization studies, as well as improved skills in image analysis and scientific visualization using Fiji (ImageJ), which is essential for processing all my microscopy data.”

The secondment at IBBM provided highly valuable scientific and professional training directly aligned with the objectives of the Judith´s doctoral project. It strengthened expertise in microscopy and plant molecular biology techniques, which will be directly applied in future viroid research. The knowledge and methodologies acquired will support ongoing and future experiments focused on viroid RNA localization and trafficking. In addition, the secondment fostered new collaborative links and opened opportunities for future joint projects and scientific publications.

*In the photo are Dr. Eduardo Peña, Judith’s hosting supervisor, and Dr. Ana Marchesini, who supervised her during the experimental work. At the IBBM, Judith carried out confocal microscopy after agroinfiltrating Nicotiana benthamiana plants with an endoplasmic reticulum–RFP marker. The image shows the cortical region of the cell, where the ER can be clearly identified – an important part of Judith’s training focused on recognizing different subcellular compartments.

Judith López Ponce is an MSCA fellow within the ViroiDoc Network. Judith is working on an individual research project entitled “In vivo imaging of viroid RNA and associated host factors” at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes (IBMP) in France under supervision of Manfred Heinlein / Todd Blevins and co-supervisor Laura Elvira-González, while also pursuing her PhD at the University of Strasbourg´s École Doctorale des Sciences de la Vie et de la Santé.