Lorant Hatvani

Investigation into the potential role of fungal viruses in the dry bubble disease of cultivated mushroom – towards biological pest management

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

@DublinAirport Hi, is it allowed to carry an empty thermos through the security check?

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

The Leca-VIR project was introduced to our visitors from secondary schools at the Science Week 2024 event in Ashtown.
https://t.co/DGSGPf9xzg
The direct interaction with the students and their teachers led to a great opportunity for outreach. Photos will follow.
@RL2025

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Ashtown Campus, Teagasc: Mushrooms in totally different environments
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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Mushroom crop trials in progress
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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

A nice day with potential future scientists. 😉
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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

After a short vacation in my home country (Hungary), which included a lecture for members of the Mushroom Hunters' Club of Szentes, I'm back in Dublin, ready to start the return phase. 💪
@RL2025

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

The outgoing phase has been completed, and the attendance and lecture delivered at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Virology was a perfect ending.
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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

As a follow-up of the friendly event last year, the progress of the Leca-VIR project was recently presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Chugoku/Shikoku Regional Virology Society.

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

As a follow-up of the friendly event last year, the progress of the Leca-VIR project was recently presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Chugoku/Shikoku Regional Virology Society.

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Presentation of project progress at the annual assembly of my Outgoing Phase Host Organisation (Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Japan)
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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

The 2 partners (A: virus particles isolated from the donor fungal strain, confirmed by dsRNA extraction, B: proptoplasts prepared from the recipient) are ready, it's time for date (transfection)!

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Wild mushrooms in front of Okayama Castle

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

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[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Leca-VIR Show: Public project presentation at IPSR Open Campus Day

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Usually I'm not happy about negative PCR results however, there are exceptional cases.

1. My COVID test before coming to Japan (data not shown)

2. Virus curing (elimination of mycoviruses from fungal strains; Fig. 1)

@RL2025

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Happy Women's Day Everyone!

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Harvest

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Entering the mushroom industry: our first shiitake farm 😆

[Lorant Hatvani @Leca_VIR]

Viruses detected in different fungal species related to our target, the mushroom pathogen Lecanicillium fungicola.
@RL2025