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Elin Falla

@elinfalla.bsky.social

Plant Sciences PhD student at University of Cambridge. Theoretical & Computational Epidemiology. Mathematical modelling of aphid-transmitted NPT viruses. ‪@bspp.bsky.social‬ Ambassador

65 Followers  |  183 Following  |  17 Posts  |  Joined: 02.06.2025  |  1.8719

Latest posts by elinfalla.bsky.social on Bluesky

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A FLOE-related protein regulates the two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth transition in the moss Physcomitrium patens Summary: The transition to 3D growth is negatively regulated by a FLOE-related protein that alters cytokinin perception and cell division processes in the moss Physcomitrium patens.

I am very excited to share my first publication from my PhD work: A FLOE-related protein regulates the two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth transition in the moss Physcomitrium patens url: journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...

26.08.2025 16:36 — 👍 20    🔁 7    💬 1    📌 1
Diagram of the compartments in my mathematical disease model and the rates at which individuals flow between them. Compartments are healthy plants, infected plants, resistant (companion plants), un-infective aphids and infective aphids.

Diagram of the compartments in my mathematical disease model and the rates at which individuals flow between them. Compartments are healthy plants, infected plants, resistant (companion plants), un-infective aphids and infective aphids.

The preprint of my second first-author paper (with
@nikcunniffe.bsky.social) is out! Read to find out how virus-resistant companion plants can control spread of non-persistently transmitted plant viruses: www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.31220...
@camplantsci.bsky.social @caiuscollege.bsky.social

05.06.2025 11:05 — 👍 9    🔁 4    💬 0    📌 0
Why aphid virus retention needs more attention: Modelling aphid behaviour and virus manipulation in non-persistent plant virus transmission Author summary Plant viruses can cause devastating disease epidemics. Non-persistently transmitted viruses are almost always vectored (transmitted between plants) by aphids. Experiments show virus infection can affect whether aphids are attracted to plants (by altering how infected plants ‘smell’), as well as whether aphids settle for an extended feed after a brief initial probe (by altering how infected plants ‘taste’). Since virus transmission requires an individual aphid to briefly probe an infected plant followed by one or more healthy plant(s), this strongly affects disease transmission. However, most studies exploring virus epidemics do not account for how aphid feeding behaviour affects how long an aphid holds the virus for, or that an aphid could infect multiple healthy plants before losing the virus. We use mathematical modelling to dissect how these aspects of aphid feeding behaviour affect virus transmission, particularly when viruses manipulate the ‘smell’ and ‘taste’ of plants. We show how previous studies, by omitting crucial aspects of aphid feeding behaviour, underestimate how viruses can promote their own transmission. We also highlight that there are very few experimental studies exploring the number of plants an aphid with the virus can consecutively infect, which is a key parameter affecting the severity of epidemics.

My first first-author paper is out in @PLOSCompBiol! Read about why including aphid vector behavior is important for modelling NPT plant virus transmission, in particular when the virus is manipulating plant host phenotype:

journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/a…

09.10.2024 14:53 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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My talk at the Plant Pathology conference #PPATH24 won the PH Gregory Prize for best student talk! Thanks to @BS_PP for organizing such a great conference

02.10.2024 10:27 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Very excited to be at @BS_PP ‘s Plant Pathology conference for the next few days, and honoured to have been selected to give a talk on my PhD work in the PH Gregory Prize session today! #PPATH24

x.com/BS_PP/status/1…

11.09.2024 09:26 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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I’ve been in Spain this week to give a talk on my PhD work at the European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology. Thanks to the organisers for hosting such a great event in the (very very) sunny Toledo! #ECMTB24

26.07.2024 13:34 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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The preprint of my very first first-author paper (with @nikcunniffe) is out!! Have a read to find out why models of non-persistent plant virus transmission should include aphid vector dispersal and feeding behaviours @cambridgesbs @plantsci @CaiusCollege

doi.org/10.31220/agriR…

16.05.2024 19:53 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Really valuable day learning more about agricultural sustainability and agri-tech - thanks to the organisers!

x.com/Agri_Tech_E/st…

27.04.2024 08:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Talk completed! I had a great time talking about my and @nikcunniffe ‘s model, and how virus-induced plant phenotypes can affect aphid behavior and virus transmission. Takeaway = remember to model the vector! Thanks @MikabAley + @UnderGardener1 for your excellent questions #iew13

10.04.2024 16:25 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Great to be at the 13th International Epidemiology Workshop in Brazil! Interesting first day of talks; I’m excited to present my work tomorrow morning on modelling aphid behavior to understand NPT virus manipulation of host plants #iew13

09.04.2024 20:42 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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Recently I did a poster + flash talk at the British Crop Production Council Diseases Review 2023 - was super interesting to hear diverse perspectives on balancing food security and environmental responsibility! Photo below of me and the other presenters 🥬

01.11.2023 12:15 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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My final presentation of conference season approaches! Tomorrow (Thurs) I'll be talking about my work at #ICPP2023 in the "Modelling and analysis to better understand and predict epidemics" session at 8:30 - come along! My talk nicely follows up @nikcunniffe's great talk on Tues.

23.08.2023 20:30 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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From one conference to another! I’m in Lyon for #ICPP2023. Currently at the #episense satellite meeting, focused on integrating remote sensing and epidemiological modelling for disease control, where I’m presenting a poster of my work. Watch this space for details of my talk!

20.08.2023 11:33 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0
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I’m in Denver in the US, ready to give a talk at #PlantHealth2023! I’m speaking in the “Interesting Topics in Virology” technical session at 12:30 tomorrow (Sunday) - come along to learn about modelling aphid feeding behaviors in epidemiological models!

13.08.2023 00:55 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Very excited and privileged to be a part of this - go to Cambridge Botanic Gardens (@CUBotanicGarden) to find a board about my work on modelling plant diseases, in the context of the impacts on cucumbers!

x.com/CUBotanicGarde…

13.07.2023 14:29 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Excited to take over @BS_PP’s twitter this afternoon as part of #PlantHealthWeek to talk about my work #HelpingKeepPlantsHealthy and role as a new ambassador!

x.com/BS_PP/status/1…

12.05.2023 08:30 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

So happy to have been able to give a talk on my work at #NoCaSS2023 - my first talk at a conference! Thanks so much to the organisers for such an interesting and engaging event 🎉🎉

t.co/9qJ08T8DAW

26.04.2023 08:44 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Thanks to @CamInfectDis for having me to talk about my PhD work! I spoke about a novel compartmental model of NPT viruses I’m developing that more realistically tracks aphid vector behaviours. 🌿

x.com/CamInfectDis/s…

14.03.2023 18:45 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

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