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Opinion and Comment

Nature Biotechnology 26, 617–619 (1 June 2008) | doi:10.1038/nbt0608-617

A cautionary note on pathogen-derived sequences

Alessandra Lucioli , David E Sallustio , Daniele Barboni , Alessandra Berardi , Velia Papacchioli , Raffaela Tavazza & Mario Tavazza

To the editor: From the seminal work of Beachy's group in 1986, several research groups have explored and exploited the use of pathogen-derived sequences to obtain transgenic plants resistant to viral pests. Although other interfering strategies have subsequently been developed, pathogen-derived resistance (PDR) remains the most powerful strategy to block susceptibility to RNA viruses—a prominent example being the recently sequenced transgenic papaya, SunUp, which is resistant to ringspot virus by virtue of expression of the viral coat protein gene.