Personlig profil
Information om forskning och undervisning
Research
Plant health is an increasingly important issue as sufficient food security is endangered by the global climate change and growing population of the world. The research in the group focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying Potato virus A (PVA) infection. PVA is a member of genus Potyvirus, which is economically the most devastating group of plant RNA viruses. Understanding the different stages of virus infection is a prerequisite for being able to prevent infections. The research in the group is carried out with the advanced techniques of biochemistry, and molecular and cell biology. The aims of our research are:
1) to produce novel information of the various stages of the virus multiplication cycle (protein synthesis, RNA replication, virus movement, encapsidation), and how these functions are localized and coordinated within the infected cells.
2) to tackle the disease problem caused by the genus Potyvirus, which is economically the most devastating group of plant viruses. Host factors involved in viral multiplication represent potential targets for virus control. Their identification and functional characterization is one of the major frontiers in virus research.
3) to follow viruses present on barley and oat field in Southern Finland and to study the impact of undersown cover crop plant species diversity on barley / oat viruses.
4) to exploit viruses in nanobiotechnology applications.
Teaching
I am responsible for organizing the teaching of plant pathology in Bachelor's and Master's programmes in Agricultural Sciences, in Plant Production Sciences study track. The MSc plant pathology teaching consists of courses in Fungal Plant Pathogens, Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, Plant Virology, Epidemiology and Ecology of Plant Pathogens and Plant-Microbe Interactions. The students get also training in the plant pathology research groups.
I have been an organizer and teacher on several post graduate courses on plant virology, plant-pathogen co-evolution and heterologous protein production in plants. Several doctoral students have graduated under my supervision.
Vetenskapsgrenar
- 1183 Växtbiologi, mikrobiologi, virologi
- 4111 Jordbruksvetenskap
Samarbeten och ledande forskningsområden under de senaste fem åren
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Species-specific structural adaptation of the potyviral coat protein in virions and virus-like particles
Koritnik, N., Kežar, A., Kavčič, L., Tušek Žnidarič, M., Leonardi, A., Swarnalok, D., Pollari, M., Mäkinen, K. & Podobnik, M., 13 jan. 2026, I: Communications Biology.Forskningsoutput: Tidskriftsbidrag › Artikel › Vetenskaplig › Peer review
Öppen tillgångFil -
<i>Phragmivirus</i>, a new genus within the family <i>Potyviridae</i>
Inoue-Nagata, A. K., Jordan, R., Kreuze, J. F., Li, F., Lopez-Moya, J. J., Makinen, K., Ohshima, K., Rubino, L. & Wylie, S., aug. 2025, I: Archives of Virology. 170, 8, 8 s., 165.Forskningsoutput: Tidskriftsbidrag › Artikel › Vetenskaplig › Peer review
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Mapping and quantification of potato virus A RNA genomes within viral particles and polysomes in infected plant cells
Dutta, P. & Mäkinen, K., feb. 2025, I: Journal of Virological Methods. 332, 8 s., 115066.Forskningsoutput: Tidskriftsbidrag › Artikel › Vetenskaplig › Peer review
Öppen tillgångFil -
Nordic Countries as an Opportunity for Sustainable, Low Pest Seed Potato Production in a Climate Change Scenario
Albrectsen, B. R., Mäkinen, K., Mahawar, L., Mishra, A., Abuley, I. K., Veillon, I., Gopan, A. I., Sajeevan, R. S., Resjö, S., Andreasson, E., Liljeroth, E., Marhavý, P., Rossmann, S. L. & Hansen, J. G., dec. 2025, I: Potato Research. 68, 4, s. 4623-4651 29 s.Forskningsoutput: Tidskriftsbidrag › Översiktsartikel › Peer review
Öppen tillgångFil -
Summary of taxonomy changes ratified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses from the Plant Viruses Subcommittee, 2025
ICTV Taxonomy Summary Consortium, Rubino, L., Abrahamian, P., An, W., Aranda, M. A., Ascencio-Ibañez, J. T., Bejerman, N., Blouin, A. G., Candresse, T., Canto, T., Cao, M., Carr, J. P., Cho, W. K., Constable, F., Dasgupta, I., Debat, H., Dietzgen, R. G., Digiaro, M., Donaire, L. & Elbeaino, T. & 32 andra, , 2025, I: Journal of General Virology. 106, 7, 20 s., 002114.Forskningsoutput: Tidskriftsbidrag › Artikel › Vetenskaplig › Peer review
Öppen tillgångFil
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Towards comprehensive protein-protein interactome responsible for the coordination of potyvirus infection processes
Mäkinen, K. (Projektledare), Aspelin, W. W. E. (deltagare), Dutta, P. (deltagare) & Pollari, M. (deltagare)
01/09/2024 → 31/08/2028
Projekt: Finlands Akademi: Akademiprojektsbidrag
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ViPS: Viikki Plant Science Centre
Elomaa, P. (Projektledare), Aphalo, P. (Principal Investigator), Asiegbu, F. (Principal Investigator), Bäck, J. (Principal Investigator), Berninger, F. (Principal Investigator), Brosche, M. (Principal Investigator), Fagerstedt, K. (Principal Investigator), Hänninen, H. (Principal Investigator), Heinonsalo, J. (Principal Investigator), Helariutta, Y. (Principal Investigator), Himanen, K. (Principal Investigator), Hölttä, T. (Principal Investigator), Hytönen, T. (Principal Investigator), Hyvönen, J. (Principal Investigator), Kangasjärvi, J. (Principal Investigator), Kärkönen, A. (Principal Investigator), Korpelainen, H. (Principal Investigator), Laine, A.-L. (Principal Investigator), Mähönen, A. P. (Principal Investigator), Mäkelä, A. (Principal Investigator), Mäkinen, K. (Principal Investigator), Ojala, A. (Principal Investigator), Overmyer, K. (Principal Investigator), Palonen, P. (Principal Investigator), Palva, E. T. (Principal Investigator), Pihlatie, M. (Principal Investigator), Pirhonen, M. (Principal Investigator), Porcar-Castell, A. (Principal Investigator), Pumpanen, J. (Principal Investigator), Rikkinen, J. (Principal Investigator), Robson, T. M. (Principal Investigator), Salojärvi, J. (Principal Investigator), Schulman, A. (Principal Investigator), Stoddard, F. (Principal Investigator), Teeri, T. (Principal Investigator), Valkonen, J. (Principal Investigator), Vesala, T. (Principal Investigator), Wrzaczek, M. (Principal Investigator) & Sims-Huopaniemi, K. (Annan)
01/01/2015 → …
Projekt: Annan projekt
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Translationally active and inactive viral ribonucleoprotein complexes and their importance in potyvirus infection / Academy of Finland
Mäkinen, K. (Projektledare) & Lõhmus, A. (Deltagare)
Projekt: Forskningsprojekt
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Translationally active and inactive ribonucleoprotein complexes and their importance in potyvirus infection
Mäkinen, K. (Projektledare), Pollari, M. (Deltagare) & Swarnalok, D. (Deltagare)
Projekt: Forskningsprojekt
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MOBILITY PROGRAMME FOR EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS IN AFRICA TO VISIT UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI
Mäkinen, K. (Principal Investigator) & Machingauta, V. (deltagare)
01/10/2024 → 28/02/2025
Projekt: Forskningsprojekt
Aktiviteter
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Maataloustieteen päivät 2026
Mäkinen, K. (Närvarande)
8 jan. 2026 → 9 jan. 2026Aktivitet: Typer för deltagande i eller organisering av evenemang › Arrangemang av och deltagande i konferens/workshop/kurs/seminarium
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Synthetic biological solutions for virus resistance in potato
Mäkinen, K. (!!Speaker)
11 dec. 2025Aktivitet: Typer för tal eller presentation › !!Invited talk
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SUOMEN MAATALOUSTIETEELLINEN SEURA RY (Extern organisation)
Mäkinen, K. (Styrelsemedlem)
2025 → 2028Aktivitet: Medlemskapstyper › Medlemskap eller annan role i inhemsk/internationell kommitté, råd, styrelse
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Ajankohtaista kasvinsuojelun tutkimuksesta
Mäkinen, K. (!!Speaker)
24 okt. 2025Aktivitet: Typer för tal eller presentation › !!Invited talk
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Diego Mencarini
Mäkinen, K. (Värd)
13 jan. 2025 → 13 juni 2025Aktivitet: Typer för att vara värd för en besökare › Akademiskt besök på HU
Tidningsurklipp
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Kohtaamisia - Vastuullista viljelyä - Kotipuutarha 4 2021
01/04/2021
1 Mediabidrag
Press/media: !!Press / Media
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Vesimeloni on kurkunviljelijän yllättävä vihollinen – kasvivirukset uhkaavat ruokaturvallisuutta, mutta tiede voi taklata ne geenisaksilla
14/11/2020
2 Mediabidrag
Press/media: !!Press / Media
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Kasvivirus voi kaapata kasvin puolustusjärjestelmän – tutkijat haluavat nykypäivän kasvinjalostustekniikat käyttöön
13/11/2020
1 Mediabidrag
Press/media: !!Press / Media
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Plant Viruses Hijack The Defence System Of Plants, But Researchers May Be Able To Find A Way To Strike Back
05/11/2020
1 objekt av Mediabevakning
Press/media: !!Press / Media