Björn Krenz
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bkrenz.bsky.social
Björn Krenz
@bkrenz.bsky.social
Head of the DSMZ Plant Viruses Department, PI, dedicated in collection, diagnosis, management and research of plant viruses
But Tomato fruit blotch virus (ToFBV), a Blunervirus, shows up with a lipid membrane — rare, exotic, and eye-catching.

Even in virology, fashion matters. 😉

#PlantVirology #ToFBV #Blunervirus #Kitaviridae #SciComm #ScienceHumor
September 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Like parsley! Did you know that Germans consume 138g/year/household? Bummer if it infected by rhabdoviruses...
September 5, 2025 at 10:48 AM
🍂 It's September – time to reveal our new Virus of the Month!
This one has been grafted, as shown in the picture... but can you guess what it is? 👀
Stay tuned – more clues and facts coming soon!
#PlantVirology
September 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
For plant viruses, assembling into particles is like getting dressed before leaving the "house". Most plant viruses know: no capsid, no infection.
#PlantVirology
September 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
RNA viruses are famous for their fast and sloppy replication, using error-prone RNA polymerases that generate lots of mutations. But here’s the twist: many DNA viruses mutate just as much — even though they often rely on the host’s supposedly “accurate” DNA polymerases. But why?
#PlantVirology
August 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
August 21, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Great internal event @leibniz-dsmz.bsky.social today! Insightful presentations from our department heads gave a strong overview of ongoing work and strategic goals. At DSMZ, the Plant Viruses department provides virus inoculum, antibodies, HTS services and more: www.dsmz.de/collection/c...
August 20, 2025 at 8:09 AM
With HTS, we can detect even the smallest traces of viral RNA or DNA in plant samples—but not everything detected actually infects the plant.

Detection ≠ infection. HTS is just the start—validation is essential.

#PlantVirology #HTS #VirusDiscovery #PlantPathology

lnkd.in/eFG_rWcg
August 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
As global temperatures rise, insect vectors like whiteflies can increasingly shift their range. Regions once considered too cold may soon become suitable habitat—bringing plant viruses (and other pathogens) along for the ride.
#PlantVirology #ClimateChange #InsectVectors #PlantHealth #Whiteflies
August 15, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Today is back2school in Lower Saxony, Germany. I wish all students a great first day at school!
August 14, 2025 at 5:03 AM
No words needed 😉
August 11, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Happy Friday everyone!
August 8, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Bringing home seeds or plants from your holiday? 🌿✈️
You might also import something smaller !
🦠 Some viruses travel light... but cause heavy damage.
Don’t plant trouble.

#PlantHealth #PlantVirology
July 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Today we had the great opportunity to visit Sönke Strampe (www.soenkes-suesskartoffeln.de) and his farm to learn more about sweet potatoes – a big thank you for the warm welcome, the valuable insights, and the open exchange! 🌱🍠

#SweetPotato #PlantVirology
July 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#HappyFriday, everyone! Not all plant viruses are hyperactive. Some, like Arabidopsis latent virus 1 (ArLV-1, DSMZ No.: PC-1445), can persist in their hosts without causing symptoms — quietly hanging out in sort of "latent state".
June 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Apparently, #begomoviruses, like #TYLCV, can replicate in one nucleus...that might have some implications. journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
June 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS): Spotting the unseen troublemakers!
May 30, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Happy Biodiversity Day !!!
May 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Plasmodesmata are normally too narrow for large molecules like viral RNA or proteins. Movement proteins can modify these channels to widen them — like giving the virus a VIP pass.
May 21, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Plant viruses are typically transmitted in a few key ways — quite different from how animal viruses spread....
May 14, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Today is International Plant Health Day!
May 12, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Looks like the global arms race has reached plant viruses too... 😱
May 9, 2025 at 5:18 AM
A plant virus in home office 😆
May 6, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Zum Tag der Arbeit 😉
May 1, 2025 at 8:11 AM
April 30, 2025 at 1:45 PM