RESEARCH

Primary Research Interests:
Plant immune pathways at the host–pathogen interface, with a focus on those targeted by pathogen effectors:

1. Defense-Related Autophagy:
Investigating how selective autophagy contributes to plant immunity and how pathogens hijack these pathways to promote infection.

2. Immune Receptor Trafficking and Signaling:
Studying the intracellular dynamics and activation of NLR immune receptors during pathogen attack and their role in triggering immune responses.

3. Vesicle and Organelle Trafficking:
Exploring the targeted recruitment of defense components and chloroplasts to infection sites, and how pathogens subvert these processes through effector protein delivery.

4. Bioengineering Plant Immune Receptors:
Developing synthetic immune receptors to enhance disease resistance against diverse plant pathogens and pests.

GRANTS

  • STANDARD - CALL
    Engineering synthetic disease resistance genes to tackle plant pathogens¿
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc1 Mar 2023 - 29 Feb 2024
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc: Engineering synthetic disease resistance genes to tackle plant pathogens¿ (2023-2024)
  • INTERNAL SCHEME
    BBSRC UKRI IAA 22-25
    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Cou
    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Cou: BBSRC UKRI IAA 22-25 (2022-2027)
  • STUDENTSHIP
    Engineering synthetic disease resistance genes to tackle plant pathogens
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc: Engineering synthetic disease resistance genes to tackle plant pathogens (2022-2026)
  • STUDENTSHIP
    Generation and Identification of Synthetic Resistance Genes for Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) Resistance
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc
    Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc: Generation and Identification of Synthetic Resistance Genes for Asian Soybean Rust (ASR) Resistance (2022-2026)