Juan Martin Azcue

I’m passionate about understanding how molecular interactions within plants shape their immune responses. I’m particularly interested in how subtle structural changes in immune receptors influence their ability to recognize pathogen effectors and activate defense signaling.

During my research in Buenos Aires, I evaluated the response of different potato varieties to Argentinian Phytophthora infestans isolates and assessed the ability of various resistance genes to recognize these isolates.

At TSL, I’m interested in using this knowledge to guide the engineering of resistance proteins by modifying or reconfiguring specific domains. The ultimate goal is to generate synthetic immune receptors that provide durable and field-relevant resistance, contributing to more resilient crops. This approach combines structural biology, biotechnology, and plant pathology to retool plant immunity for sustainable agriculture.