The molecular dialogue that underlies plant-pathogen interactions is wonderfully intricate and complex. Currently, I am studying how the oomycete Phytophthora infestans can co-opt autophagy pathways in its host to promote disease. Understanding the mechanisms through which pathogens in general evade immunity and successfully infect their hosts is key if we wish to engineer disease-resistant crops.
An N-terminal motif in NLR immune receptors is functionally conserved across distantly related plant species. bioRxiv preprint Jul 04, 2019 doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/693291
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Host autophagy machinery is diverted to the pathogen interface to mediate focal defense responses against the Irish potato famine pathogen. Elife. 2018 Jun 22;7. pii: e37476. doi: 10.7554/eLife.37476.
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