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The role of the symplast in host-pathogen interactions – how does the symplastic, intercellular exchange of molecules regulate the outcomes of defence and infection?

Objective

Cell-to-cell communication is fundamental to multicellular organisms. The exchange of information and resources between cells and tissues enables co-ordination of responses to environmental and developmental signals. In plants, the cytoplasm of adjacent cells is connected by plasma membrane-line pores called plasmodesmata (PD) that cross the cell wall, generating cytoplasmic continuity between cells and tissues. This interconnected cytoplasm is termed the symplast and is unique to plants. In plants, growing evidence suggests that innate immune responses rely on regulation of symplastic connectivity. My group previously discovered that regulation of PD (whether they are open or closed) is critical for immune responses. Further, we have shown that pathogens suppress host regulation of PD in an effort to maintain symplastic continuity between cells. We don’t know why the host regulates the symplast during defence: while data suggests that different defence responses might differently exploit the symplast, we don’t understand how the symplast defines the success of a response. Similarly, we don’t know how a pathogen benefits from maintaining connectivity with surrounding host cells – is this to allow the movement of molecules to suppress defence, or is it to optimise access to host resources? This programme will investigate the question of how the symplast contributes to defence and infection strategies. We aim to understand how these strategies play out in an infection context. We will use experimental and computational approaches to generate models that allow us to predict the outcome of infection upon the basis of symplastic processes and PD regulation. Ultimately, this will create a framework for novel strategies to enhance pathogen resistance.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2016-COG

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Host institution

JOHN INNES CENTRE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 162 500,00
Address
NORWICH RESEARCH PARK COLNEY
NR4 7UH NORWICH
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England East Anglia Breckland and South Norfolk
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 162 500,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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