I study RNA viruses that infect cereals, with particular interest in viruses in the family Tombusviridae. By introducing mutations into an infectious cDNA clones of Maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV)and Maize necrotic streak virus (MNeSV), my laboratory studies the effects of these mutations on the virus life cycle. Additionally, I am studying the mechanism these and related viruses use to translate their mRNAs in a cap-independent manner. I am also interested in developing viral vectors for use in cereal crops.

Another interest is using RNA structure/function analyses and comparisons as an aid in elucidating the evolutionary relationships among RNA viruses. This work is in conjunction with the Plant Virus Biodiversity and Ecology project.

 

Recent Publications

 

For most recent publication list, see ReserchGate
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES (for a complete list see here)

Scheets, K. (2016) Analysis of gene functions in maize chlorotic mottle virus. Virus Research 222, 71-79
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168170216300211

Scheets, K., Jordan, R., White, K. A., and Hernandez, C. (2015) Pelarspovirus, a proposed new genus in the family Tombusviridae. Archives of Virology 160, 2385-2893

Scheets, K. (2013) Infectious transcripts of an asymptomatic panicovirus identified from a metagenomic survey. Virus Research 176, 161-168 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2013.06.001

Wangai, A. W., Redinbaugh, M. G., Kinyua, Z. M., Miano, D. W., Leley, P. K., Kasina, M., Mahuku, G., Scheets, K., and Jeffers, D. (2012) First report of maize chlorotic mottle virus and maize lethal necrosis in Kenya. Plant Disease 96, 1582-1582

Wang, Z., Parisien, M., Scheets, K., and Miller, W. A. (2011) The cap-binding translation initiation factor, eIF4E, binds a pseudoknot in a viral cap-independent translation element. Structure 19, 868-880

Scheets, K., Blinkova, O., Melcher, U., Palmer, M. W., Wiley, G. B., Ding, T., and Roe, B. A. (2011) Detection of members of the Tombusviridae in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Osage County, Oklahoma, USA. Virus Research 160, 256-263 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2011.06.023

Wren, J. D., Roossinck, M. J., Nelson, R. S., Scheets, K., Palmer, M. W., and Melcher, U. (2006) Plant virus biodiversity and ecology. PLOS Biology 4, e80

Scheets, K., and Redinbaugh, M. G. (2006) Infectious cDNA transcripts of maize necrotic streak virus: infectivity and translational characteristics. Virology 350, 171-183

Della Vedova, C. B., Lorbiecke, R., Kirsch, H., Schulte, M. B., Scheets, K., Borchert, L. M., Scheffler, B. E., Wienand, U., Cone, K. C., and Birchler, J. A. (2005) The dominant inhibitory chalcone synthase allele C2-Idf (Inhibitor diffuse) from Zea mays (L.) acts via an endogenous RNA silencing mechanism. Genetics 170, 1989-2002

ICTV-REVIEWED ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

Scheets K (2016) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2016.006aP.A.v1.Umbravirus_2sp. Create 2 species in the genus Umbravirus, family Tombusviridae. https://talk.ictvonline.org/files/ictv_official_taxonomy_updates_since_the_8th_report/m/plant-official/6674

Scheets K, White KA, Rubino L, Martelli GP, Rochon D’A (2015) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2015.007a-rP.A.v1.split_Carmovirus. Divide the genus Carmovirus (family Tombusviridae) into three new genera: Alphacarmovirus, Betacarmovirus, and Gammacarmovirus.

Scheets K, Rochon D’A (2015) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2015.008aP.A.v1.Aureusvirus_sp. Create species Yam spherical virus in genus Aureusvirus, family Tombusviridae. https://talk.ictvonline.org/files/ictv_official_taxonomy_updates_since_the_8th_report/m/plant-official/1117

Scheets, K., Jordan, R., White, A. and Hernandez, C., (2015) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2014.006b-fP.A..v3.Pelarspovirus. In the family Tombusviridae assign 5 previously unassigned species to a new genus, Pelarspovirus.

Scheets, K., White, K. A., Rubino, L., Martelli, G., and Rochon, D. A. (2015) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2015.007a-rP.A.v1.split_Carmovirus. Divide the genus Carmovirus (family Tombusviridae) into three new genera: Alphacarmovirus, Betacarmovirus, and Gammacarmovirus.

Rochon, D. A., Scheets, K., White, A., Martelli, G., and Rubino, L. (2014) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2013.010a,bP.A.v2.Umbravirus_move. Move the genus Umbravirus into family Tombusviridae.

Scheets, K. (2014) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2014.007aP.A.v1.Panicovirus_sp. Create 1 new species in the genus Panicovirus, family Tombusviridae.

Scheets, K., Hernandez, C., Jordan, R., and White, A. (2014) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2014.006aP.A.v2.Tombusviridae_4sp. Create 4 new species unassigned in the family Tombusviridae.

Scheets, K., and Melcher, U. (2014) ICTV taxonomic proposal 2014.008aP.A.v3.Tombusviridae_sp. Create 1 new species unassigned in the family Tombusviridae.