Expression of Viral Coat Protein to Resist Infection in Agriculture - Viruses are a serious problem for many of the agricultural crops and animals. Infections can result in reduced growth, yield of products and quality. Through a standard genetic trick termed cross-protection, infection of a plant/animal with a strain of virus that produces only mild effect protects the plants/animals against infection by more damaging strains.

The same principle/ mechanism when applied to animals is called as vaccination. Although the mechanism of cross protection is not entirely known, it is thought that a particular viral encoded protein is responsible for the protective effect.