Leveraging Pathogen Diversity for Gaining Insights into Molecular Plant - Microbe Interactions

植物暴露于许多病原体，因此进化出复杂的免疫系统。另一方面，病原体进化出复杂的机制来克服植物免疫系统。在这个项目中，研究人员将利用病原体种群和作物植物的遗传多样性来鉴定病原体基因和决定植物-病原体相互作用结果的植物基因。这些基因有望为作物病害的防治提供新的途径。该项目还将为学生提供多个跨学科和国际背景下的培训机会。研究人员先前通过比较番茄病原体假单胞菌pv.番茄（Pto）彼此。特别是，他们确定了病原体相关分子模式（PAMP）flgII，这是鞭毛丝结构蛋白（FliC）内的一个表位，并在番茄和其他茄科植物中引发免疫反应。为了确定更多的PAMP，Pto及其近亲的国际菌株收集将在当前项目中通过从雨水，地表水和作物中分离细菌来扩大。将进行基因组测序和群体基因组分析。病原体的出现，传播和作物适应将被调查，新的PAMP和其他基因参与病原体-植物相互作用将被预测的基础上自然选择的签名。然后将利用生物化学和遗传学方法测试候选基因在病原体-植物相互作用中的作用。这种方法也将被用来确定番茄受体的先前特征的PAMP flgII，并可能，番茄受体的其他PAMP，可能会被确定在当前的项目。

Plants are exposed to many pathogens and consequently evolved a sophisticated immune system. On the other hand, pathogens evolved sophisticated mechanisms to overcome the plant immune system. In this project, the investigators will take advantage of genetic diversity in pathogen populations and in crop plants to identify pathogen genes and plant genes that determine the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions. These genes can be expected to provide new avenues towards novel approaches in crop disease prevention and control. The project will also offer multiple opportunities for training students in an interdisciplinary and international context.The investigators previously gained new insights into molecular plant-microbe interactions by comparing strains of the tomato pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) with each other. In particular, they identified the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) flgII, which is an epitope within the flagellar filament structural protein (FliC) and which triggers an immune response in tomato and other Solanaceae. To identify additional PAMPs, an international strain collection of Pto and of its close relatives will be expanded in the current project by isolating bacteria from rain, surface water, and crops. Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses will be performed. Pathogen emergence, spread, and crop adaptation will be investigated and new PAMPs and other genes involved in pathogen - plant interaction will be predicted based on signatures of natural selection. Candidate genes will then be tested for their role in pathogen - plant interaction using biochemical and genetic approaches. Such approaches will also be used to identify the tomato receptor of the previously characterized PAMP flgII and, possibly, tomato receptors of other PAMPs that may be identified in the current project.