SPEAKER: Huan Chen

               Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science, SAB

TIME ：12:40-14:00 November 15th, 2023 (Wed)

VENUE：Room 104, Building B, SAB

ORGANIZER：Office of Discipline and Science & Technology, SAB;

                             Young Teachers Association, SAB

TITLE：A Never-Ending Saga: From Bacterial Pathogen Effectors to the Master Immune Coactivators to Boost Plant Immunity

ABSTRACT：

To recognize non-self and defense against pathogen infection, plants and animals rely on a consecutive and multi-layered innate immune system governed by integration of multiple cell-face and intracellular immune receptors. During host-pathogen coevolution, phytopathogenic bacteria suppress diverse plant immune systems and promote pathogenesis by injecting proteins called type III effectors into plant cells using a type III protein secretion. Based on the identification and functional study of a bacterial type III effector AvrPtoB that targets the salicylic acid (SA) receptor, we have found a novel strategy by the pathogen to promote pathogenesis and revealed the underlying mechanisms utilized by SA-activated transcriptional coactivators to boost plant immunity. This emerging discovery will help in identifying germplasm resources involved in the cultivation of broad-spectrum, durable and highly resistance crops, the development of environmentally friendly pesticides, and the prevention of human disease.