Czech Liaison Office for Research, Development and Innovation (CZELO) and its partners are pleased to invite you to the Science Café with Leticia Botella Sánchez, an unconventional open discussion, this time held online, focused on the topic of novel species of viruses.

Viruses are a global source of significant health and economic burdens. The introduction of high-throughput sequencing-based methods has paved the way for genomics-based detection of pathogens without any prior assumptions about the characteristics of the organisms. Novel mycoviruses can be seen as potential agents in the protection of forest stands and also threats for many organisms.

Leticia Botella Sánchez has developed her scientific carreer in the field of plant and tree pathology from the molecular to the ecological level. Her research covers the description of novel species of fungal viruses (mycoviruses), their occurrence and diversity within hosts’ populations. Her alma mater is the University of Salamanca and her current affiliation the Phytophthora Research Centre at the Mendel University in Brno.

Science Café is a forum for discussion of current work and interesting scientific issues. It aims to be informal and accessible. Anyone can participate; speaker is there to be questioned and to talk about her work.

Science Café is jointly organized by the CZELO, Czech Centre Brussels, Representation of the South Moravian Region to the EU and Embassy of the Czech Republic to the Kingdom of Belgium.