Biogenesis of secretory organelles and the function of adhesins secreted during the establishment of plant disease

Adhesion of pathogens to the surface of their hosts is a crucial step in the establishment of disease in both plants and animals, however, our understanding of the identity and biology of adhesive molecules produced by plant pathogens is extremely limited. We will exploit our cloning of a plant pathogen adhesin gene to elucidate molecular details of the regulation of adhesive protein synthesis, sorting, secretion and function, and will determine adhesin contribution to pathogen adhesion and virulence. Our results will uncover information on signalling in the secretory pathway in a major group of plant pathogens, and will form a platform for future development of novel disease-control measures that target plant pathogen adhesion.