Collaborative Research: Modulation of Host Auxin Physiology by Pseudomonas Syringae

本项目的目的是了解植物激素生长素在病原体感染和疾病发展过程中的作用，并阐明植物细菌病原体假单胞菌调节植物生长素合成和信号传导的机制。研究人员将使用遗传，分子和生物化学方法相结合，以确定P.dallingae用于合成生长素的生物合成途径，并研究P.dallingae毒力因子如何改变宿主生长素生理学以促进发病机制。所提出的实验是创新的和相关的，因为它们整合了病原体，植物宿主和生长素合成和宿主内信号传导的研究，并且应该产生对生长素（和潜在的其他植物激素）和激素信号传导在病原体感染和疾病发展期间的作用的更好的理解。这项工作将通过更好地了解病原体毒力和疾病易感性而使整个社会受益，并可能导致新的控制方法和提高抗病性的植物的开发。 该项目将为研究人员实验室的高中生、本科生、研究生和博士后学生提供激励和有价值的研究和教育机会，两个实验室都与教育计划合作，吸引来自代表性不足群体的学生参与研究。

The objectives of this project are to understand the role of the plant hormone auxin during pathogen infection and disease development and to elucidate the mechanisms by which the plant bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae modulates auxin synthesis and signaling in plants. The investigators will use a combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches to identify the biosynthetic pathways used by P. syringae to synthesize auxin and to investigate how P. syringae virulence factors alter host auxin physiology to promote pathogenesis. The proposed experiments are innovative and relevant because they integrate studies of the pathogen, plant host and auxin synthesis and signaling within the host and should yield improved understanding of the role(s) of auxin (and potentially other plant hormones) and hormone signaling during pathogen infection and disease development. The work will benefit society at large through a better understanding of pathogen virulence and disease susceptibility, and may lead to novel control methods and development of plants with increased disease resistance. The project will provide stimulating and valuable research and educational opportunities for high school, undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students in the investigators' laboratories, and both laboratories work with educational programs to attract students from under-represented groups to become involved in the research.