Bloomin' Marvellous Medicines

The flu virus binds specifically to sugars on cells lining the lungs. The sugars present a sticky surface for the virus to bind to as part of the infection process. We are exploiting these virus-sugar interactions for simple diagnostic tests that discriminate between human and avian influenza. Working on harmful algal blooms on the Norfolk Broads, we found a role for an algae-specific virus that regulates bloom size and toxicity to fish. This virus recognises sugars on the algae surface, prompting us to consider how flu detection and treatment strategies can be used against these algal blooms.

Plants produce hundreds of thousands of compounds that are used clinically to treat a wide variety of diseases. The Madagascan periwinkle makes the cancer drug vinblastine, artemisinin from sweet wormwood is used to treat malaria, and catnip does more than just making your cat crazy. Despite the importance of medicinal compounds from plants, it often remains unclear how these molecules are made. My research aims to discover how plants make these compounds that keep us alive and healthy.