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Project Details
Project status
In progress
Research Framework
Pou Tokomanawa
Research Duration
Jan 2022 – Dec 2024
Project Overview
This project involves the study of interactions between proteins of microbial pathogens and plants that determine whether the plant is susceptible or resistant to a pathogen.
Pathogens have the ability to deliver protein virulence factors, termed effectors, into the plant to promote infection. However, these effectors can also be recognised by resistance proteins in the plant to trigger defence responses.
The goal is to identify effector proteins from the kauri dieback pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida, characterise their functions and identify the possible plant targets of these proteins.
To identify effector proteins, we are using the recently published chromosome-level genome assembly for Phytophthora agathidicida, combined with proteomic data. The functional characterisation will be facilitated by the fact that Phytophthora agathidicida completes its life cycle in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana, which provides an excellent model host.
The research will be carried out at Massey University (Palmerston North, NZ) and in the James Hutton Institute (Dundee, UK).
Why This Matters
Understanding how pathogens interact with their hosts on a molecular level is critical as it can lead to new and durable approaches to control the diseases they cause.
The results from this study will provide a significant advance in our understanding of Phytophthora agathidicida-host interactions at the molecular level and will identify specific pathogen proteins that are potential targets for disease control in the future.
This work will also provide a blueprint for similar studies in other forest pathosystems.
Project Objectives
- Examine hydroponically grown Nicotiana benthamiana seedlings over a time course of infection with Phytophthora agathidicida.
- Analyse Phytophthora agathidicida gene expression by transcriptome analysis of Phytophthora agathidicida in Nicotiana benthamiana and kauri.
- Compile an inventory of extracellular effectors of Phytophthora agathidicida that are expressed in planta.
- Assess the functions of several key extracellular effectors by determining whether they elicit or suppress plant cell death, enhance or suppress growth of Phytophthora agathidicida in planta, which (if any) defence pathways are induced in Nicotiana benthamiana and what the plant target is.
- Carry out research work at the James Hutton Institute (Dundee, UK) to identify possible plant targets of key effector proteins.
- Assist with comparisons between Phytophthora agathidicida and Phytophthora cinnamomi.
- Produce and purify key Phytophthora agathidicida proteins for functional studies with kauri.
Research Outputs
Journal Articles
- Genomic and culture-based analysis of Cyclaneusma minus in New Zealand provides evidence for multiple morphotypes (2024 – aligned)
- Genomic, effector protein and culture-based analysis of Cyclaneusma minus in New Zealand provides evidence for multiple morphotypes (2023 – aligned)
- Characterization of two conserved cell death elicitor families from the Dothideomycete fungal pathogens Dothistroma septosporum and Fulvia fulva (syn. Cladosporium fulvum) (2022 – aligned)
- Targeted Gene Mutations in the Forest Pathogen Dothistroma septosporum Using CRISPR/Cas9 (2022 – aligned)
- Apoplastic effector candidates of a foliar forest pathogen trigger cell death in host and non-host plants (2021 – aligned)
Project Team
Dr Mariana Tarallo
Roles:
Postdoctoral Fellow Tranche 1
Institution:
Massey University
Prof Rosie Bradshaw
Roles:
Researcher Tranche 1
Institution:
Massey University
Taylah Dagg
Roles:
Master's Student Tranche 1
Institution:
Massey University
