Objective Phytophthora infestans causes the re-emerging and devastating late blight disease, which threatens potato and tomato production worldwide. With the recent publication of the P. infestans genome, it has become clear that this hemibiotrophic pathogen secretes hundreds of effector proteins to modulate plant immunity and enable colonization. Therefore, my long-term aim is to reveal the mode of action of P. infestans effectors and to analyze host molecular mechanisms that are perturbed by this devastating pathogen. Thereby, I plan to generate valuable information for the scientific community that will help to develop novel strategies to fight against plant pathogens and contribute to addressing the issue of food security. Plant innate immunity relies on pattern recognition receptors that recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as chitin. Given that oomycetes contain some chitin in their cell wall, we decided to investigate the role of chitin recognition in plant immunity against oomycetes. The overall objective of this proposal is to elucidate the mechanism of suppression of chitin elicitor signalling by P. infestans RXLR effector AVRblb2, and to identify host components involved in this process. The rationale behind this research is based on our exciting preliminary data, which showed that (i) silencing of Cerk1 in Nicotiana benthamiana increased susceptibility towards P. infestans infection, (ii) AVRblb2 suppressed the defense responses induced by chitin, and (iii) heterologous expression of AVRblb2 in N. benthamiana increased susceptibility towards P. infestans infection. We aim to determine the extent of suppression of PAMP triggered immunity (PTI) by AVRblb2 and identify the potential mechanism of suppression. We will use a multifaceted approach including genetic, biochemical, and cell imaging methods to functionally characterize suppression of PTI by AVRblb2 and elucidate the role of chitin recognition in plant immunity against P. infestans. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencepattern recognitionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG - Marie Curie Action: "Reintegration Grants" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG) Coordinator THE SAINSBURY LABORATORY EU contribution € 30 000,00 Address Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane NR47UH Norwich United Kingdom See on map Region East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Debbie Feather (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data