About

Steve Lommel is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University, serving as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Director of NCARS. His research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms of plant viral pathogenesis, particularly using the red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) as a model system. His work has extensively studied virus movement, systemic infection, and the interactions between viral proteins and host factors, including the roles of movement proteins and capsid proteins in virus transport within plants. Lommel has contributed to understanding the structural and functional aspects of plant viruses, including their RNA binding activities and virion assembly, and has developed genetic screens in model plants to identify host factors involved in viral infection. His publications include chapters on viral RNA manipulation and the multifunctional nature of plant viral coat proteins, and his research has implications for controlling plant viral diseases and developing nanotechnology-based delivery systems for agricultural and medical applications.

Research topics

• Biotechnology
• Virology
• Agronomy
• Biology
• Horticulture

Selected publications

• Recent progress in maize lethal necrosis disease: From pathogens to integrated pest management

  Journal of Integrative Agriculture · 2022 · 14 citations

  • Biology
  • Agronomy
  • Biotechnology

  Maize (Zea mays), as a staple food and an important industrial raw material, has been widely cultivated for centuries especially by smallholder farmers. Maize lethal necrosis disease (MLND) is a serious disease infecting maize, which caused devastating damage in the African region recently. MLND is induced by co-infection of maize chlorotic mottle virus and one of several cereal-infecting viruses in the Potyviridae family, with the symptoms ranging from chlorotic mottle to plant death at different infection stages. Integrated pest management for MLND needs strengthening detection, focusing on prevention and effective control. Early detection system of MLND has been successfully established by serological methods, nucleic acid-based methods, next-generation sequencing, etc. The practices, such as using certified seeds, sanitary measures, crop rotation, tolerant or resistant varieties etc., have been considered as the effective, economical and eco-friendly way to prevent and control MLND.

  PublisherDOI

• Plant Virus-Based Nanoparticles for the Delivery of Agronomic Compounds as a Suspension Concentrate

  Methods in molecular biology · 2018-01-01 · 7 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Soybean cyst nematode culture collections and field populations from North Carolina and Missouri reveal high incidences of infection by viruses

  PLoS ONE · 2017-01-31 · 21 citations

  articleOpen access

  Five viruses were previously discovered infecting soybean cyst nematodes (SCN; Heterodera glycines) from greenhouse cultures maintained in Illinois. In this study, the five viruses [ScNV, ScPV, ScRV, ScTV, and SbCNV-5] were detected within SCN greenhouse and field populations from North Carolina (NC) and Missouri (MO). The prevalence and titers of viruses in SCN from 43 greenhouse cultures and 25 field populations were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Viral titers within SCN greenhouse cultures were similar throughout juvenile development, and the presence of viral anti-genomic RNAs within egg, second-stage juvenile (J2), and pooled J3 and J4 stages suggests active viral replication within the nematode. Viruses were found at similar or lower levels within field populations of SCN compared with greenhouse cultures of North Carolina populations. Five greenhouse cultures harbored all five known viruses whereas in most populations a mixture of fewer viruses was detected. In contrast, three greenhouse cultures of similar descent to one another did not possess any detectable viruses and primarily differed in location of the cultures (NC versus MO). Several of these SCN viruses were also detected in Heterodera trifolii (clover cyst) and Heterodera schachtii (beet cyst), but not the other cyst, root-knot, or reniform nematode species tested. Viruses were not detected within soybean host plant tissue. If nematode infection with viruses is truly more common than first considered, the potential influence on nematode biology, pathogenicity, ecology, and control warrants continued investigation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy of doxorubicin-loaded Plant Virus Nanoparticles in Preclinical Models of Cancer

  Nanomedicine · 2017-09-27 · 16 citations

  article

  AIM: To compare the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of doxorubicin containing plant virus nanoparticles (PVNs) with PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and small molecule doxorubicin in two mouse models of cancer. MATERIALS & METHODS: Studies were performed in A375 melanoma and intraperitoneal SKOV3ip1 ovarian cancer xenografts. The PVNs were administered in lower and more frequent doses in the ovarian model. RESULTS: The PVNs were more efficacious than PLD and small molecule doxorubicin in the ovarian cancer model, but not in the melanoma cancer model. The pharmacokinetics profiles of the PVNs showed fast plasma clearance, but more efficient tumor delivery as compared with other carrier-mediated agents. CONCLUSION: PVNs administered at lower repeated doses provide both pharmacologic and efficacy advantages compared with PLD.

  PublisherDOI

• Development of abamectin loaded lignocellulosic matrices for the controlled release of nematicide for crop protection

  Cellulose · 2015-11-09 · 26 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i>: Its History and Future as a Model for Plant–Pathogen Interactions

  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions · 2015-01-01 · 29 citations

  articleSenior author

  Nicotiana benthamiana is the most widely used experimental host in plant virology, due mainly to the large number of diverse plant viruses that can successfully infect it. Addi- tionally, N. benthamiana is susceptible to a wide variety of other plant-pathogenic agents (such as bacteria, oomycetes, fungi, and so on), making this species a cornerstone of host-pathogen research, particularly in the context of innate immunity and defense signaling. Moreover, because it can be genetically transformed and regenerated with good efficiency and is amenable to facile methods for virus- induced gene silencing or transient protein expression, N. benthamiana is rapidly gaining popularity in plant biology, particularly in studies requiring protein localization, inter- action, or plant-based systems for protein expression and purification. Paradoxically, despite being an indispensable research model, little is known about the origins, genetic variation, or ecology of the N. benthamiana accessions cur- rently used by the research community. In addition to ad- dressing these latter topics, the purpose of this review is to provide information regarding sources for tools and reagents that can be used to support research in N. benthamiana. Finally, we propose that N. benthamiana is well situated to become a premier plant cell biology model, particularly for the virology community, who as a group were the first to recognize the potential of this unique Australian native.

  PublisherDOI

• Development of Abamectin Loaded Plant Virus Nanoparticles for Efficacious Plant Parasitic Nematode Control

  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 2015-04-23 · 106 citations

  article

  Plant parasitic nematodes are one of the world's major agricultural pests, causing in excess of $157 billion in worldwide crop damage annually. Abamectin (Abm) is a biological pesticide with a strong activity against a wide variety of plant parasitic nematodes. However, Abm's poor mobility in the soil compromises its nematicide performance because of the limited zone of protection surrounding the growing root system of the plant. In this study, we manipulated Abm's soil physical chemistry by encapsulating Abm within the Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV) to produce a plant virus nanoparticle (PVN) delivery system for Abm. The transmission electron microscopic and dynamic light scattering characterization of Abm-loaded PVN (PVN(Abm)) indicated the resultant viral capsid integrity and morphology comparable to native RCNMV. In addition, the PVN(Abm) significantly increased Abm's soil mobility while enabling a controlled release strategy for Abm's bioavailability to nematodes. As a result, PVN(Abm) enlarged the zone of protection from Meloidogyne hapla root knot nematodes in the soil as compared to treating with free Abm molecules. Tomato seedlings treated with PVN(Abm) had healthier root growth and a reduction in root galling demonstrating the success of this delivery system for the increased efficacy of Abm to control nematode damage in crops.

  PublisherDOI

• Tombusviridae

  Encyclopedia of Life Sciences · 2015-11-16 · 6 citations

  otherSenior author

  Abstract The Tombusviridae is a relatively large and diverse family of plant viruses that have small single‐stranded, positive‐sense, RNA (ribonucleic acid) genomes which have been grouped together owing to the high degree of sequence identity displayed by their RNA ‐dependent RNA polymerases. Tombusvirid virion structures, gene expression strategies, replication, RNA recombination, virus movement and the support of satellite viruses/defective‐interfering RNAs have been particularly well characterised. All genera (with the exception of the Umbraviruses ) produce spherical virions with capsid proteins that can be subdivided by the presence (or absence) of a C ‐terminal protruding domain. Transmission of several members by fungal zoospores in a species‐specific manner has been reported while aphid transmission of Umbraviruses is completely dependent on a helper virus from the Luteoviridae . The virions of several members have been utilised for biotechnology purposes. Key Concepts Various genera most likely arose through RNA recombination. Tombusviridae species replicate to high titres within their host cells. RNA genomes are small with a limited number of gene products that serve multiple functions. RNA–RNA interactions control gene expression in several genera. Viral‐encoded suppressors of RNA silencing act at several different stages in the response cascade. Virions (if present) are non‐enveloped and extremely stable. Several members are transmitted through soil by specific fungal zoospores.

  PublisherDOI

• Loading and Release Mechanism of Red Clover Necrotic Mosaic Virus Derived Plant Viral Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery of Doxorubicin

  Small · 2014-08-05 · 82 citations

  article

  Loading and release mechanisms of Red clover necrotic mosaicvirus (RCNMV) derived plant viral nanoparticle (PVN) are shown for controlled delivery of the anticancer drug, doxorubicin (Dox). Previous studies demonstrate that RCNMV's structure and unique response to divalent cation depletion and re-addition enables Dox infusion to the viral capsid through a pore formation mechanism. However, by controlling the net charge of RCNMV outer surface and accessibility of RCNMV interior cavity, tunable release of PVN is possible via manipulation of the Dox loading capacity and binding locations (external surface-binding or internal capsid-encapsulation) with the RCNMV capsid. Bimodal release kinetics is achieved via a rapid release of surface-Dox followed by a slow release of encapsulated Dox. Moreover, the rate of Dox release and the amount of released Dox increases with an increase in environmental pH or a decrease in concentration of divalent cations. This pH-responsive Dox release from PVN is controlled by Fickian diffusion kinetics where the release rate is dependent on the location of the bound or loaded active molecule. In summary, controllable release of Dox-loaded PVNs is imparted by 1) formulation conditions and 2) driven by the capsid's pH- and ion- responsive functions in a given environment.

  PublisherDOI

• <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i>: Its History and Future as a Model for Plant–Pathogen Interactions

  Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions · 2014-10-09

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Viral Genomic RNA-RNA Interactions Programming Virion Content and Assembly

  NSF · $366k · 2007–2010

• A Novel Viral RNA-RNA Interaction Coupling Gene Expression and Assembly

  NSF · $300k · 2000–2003

Frequent coauthors

• Tim L. Sit

  North Carolina State University

  34 shared

• Richard Guenther

  North Carolina State University

  15 shared

• Stefan Franzen

  North Carolina State University

  14 shared

• Willem G. Langenberg

  University of Nebraska–Lincoln

  12 shared

• D. Giesman-Cookmeyer

  North Carolina State University

  11 shared

• T.J. Morris

  10 shared

• D. E. Purcifull

  9 shared

• Charles Opperman

  North Carolina State University

  8 shared

Labs

• Structural Pest Management Training & Research FacilityPI