Hello! My name is Olivia Bertuca and I am a senior at the University of Arizona majoring in biochemistry. I am currently in Dr. Judith Brown’s laboratory in the Department of Plant Sciences studying RNA interference and gene knockdown in the potato psyllid. The potato psyllid is a pest that transmits the pathogen ‘Candidatus’ Liberibacter solanacearum to tomatoes, potatoes and other crops. This pathogen causes incurable and devastating disease in crops that causes massive yield loss. Currently, synthetic pesticides are being used to control the spread, which are costly and unsafe for the surrounding environment, so biopesticides utilizing RNA interference are being tested as alternatives. They work by introducing RNA that corresponds to a specific gene to a host cell, which then cleaves the corresponding host mRNA and silences or “knocks down” the gene. This process is specific to the target organism and safe for the surrounding environment. My project involves feeding potato psyllids double-stranded RNA targeting cell cycle regulation, homeostasis and energy metabolism genes and monitoring mortality and gene expression afterwards. When I’m not in the lab, I enjoy being outdoors, going to the gym and spending time with my friends and family! My favorite places on and near campus are Round 1, Scented Leaf and the Science and Engineering Library. My goal after graduation is to earn a Master’s and Ph.D in biochemistry or a related field and continue doing research.
