Effector biogenesis: an unexplored, and yet critically important, part of plant-nematode interactions

效应器决定了植物和入侵生物之间的相互作用。我将把植物寄生线虫的效应生物发生的专门机制定义为控制的目标。随着现有化学控制措施的逐步取消，潜伏感染将在不久的将来在整个欧洲爆炸式增长。对新解决方案的需求突显了实现这些解决方案所需的重大知识缺口。愿景线虫致病的能力取决于数百个“效应器”：在感染期间输送到植物中的分子。阻止效应器阻止寄生，然而，阻止单个效应器是不够的。相反，我建议我们应该攻击联合大多数效应器的特征--它们的生物发生机制。效应器必须通过专门的管道才能进入植物。当然，效应器生物发生是线虫的致命弱点。30年来，人们一直没有对效应器生物发生进行研究，因为这个系统很难处理。随着我们在功能遗传学方面的最新发展，我的实验室现在完全可以通过解决以下目标来剖析这一具有战略意义的重要知识鸿沟：1)效应器生产-是什么诱导线虫中效应器的生物合成？2)效应器修饰-效应器是翻译后修饰的吗？这与此有什么关系？3)效应器包装-效应器如何有选择地包装以及负责的机械是什么？4)效应器输送-效应器何时以及如何输送到植物中？这项提议将突出多种具有吸引力的靶标，用于全球重要植物病虫害的生物技术控制。为了实现这一目标，我们需要开辟效应器研究的一个全新领域，提供新的与战略相关的基础知识，并提供一个从单个效应器到效应器生物发生的整体观点的范式转换的平台。

Effectors dictate the engagement between plants and invading organisms. I will define the specialised mechanisms of effector biogenesis in plant-parasitic nematodes as targets for control.The problemPlant-parasitic nematodes threaten global food security. Latent infections are set to explode across Europe in the near future with the phasing out of existing chemical controls. The demand for new solutions highlights significant knowledge gaps necessary to achieve them.VisionThe ability of nematodes to cause disease depends on hundreds of "effectors": molecules delivered into the plant during infection. Blocking effectors blocks parasitism, however, blocking individual effectors is insufficient. Rather, I propose we should attack the features that unite most effectors - their biogenesis machinery. Effectors have to pass through a specialised conduit to get into the plant. Surely, effector biogenesis is the Achilles heel of the nematode.State-of-the-artEffector biogenesis has not been studied for 30 years because the system was intractable. With our recent development in functional genetics, my lab is now perfectly placed to dissect this strategically important knowledge gap, by addressing the following objectives:1) Effector production - what induces effector biosynthesis in the nematode?2) Effector modification - are effectors post-translationally modified and what relevance does this have?3) Effector packaging - how are effectors selectively packaged and what is the machinery responsible?4) Effector delivery - when and how do effectors get delivered into the plant?This proposal will highlight a multiplicity of attractive targets for the biotechnological control of globally important plant pests. To achieve this, we will need to open a whole new area of effector study, contribute new fundamental knowledge of strategic relevance, and provide a platform for a paradigm shift from individual effectors to a holistic view of effector biogenesis.